Alice Pike Barney

Place: Cincinnati

Born: 1857

Death: 1931

Biography:

Alice Pike Barney, American painter, was a prominent figure in the development of American art. Born in 1857, she was active in Washington, D.C., and worked to make the city a center of the arts. Her two daughters, Natalie Clifford Barney and Laura Clifford Barney, were also notable figures in the art world.

Early Life and Education

Alice Pike Barney was born into a family of German and Dutch descent. Her father, Samuel Napthali Pike, was a successful distiller who built Pike's Opera House in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alice showed talent as a singer and pianist from a young age and was the only child to share her father's cultural interests.

Career

At 17, Alice became engaged to Henry Morton Stanley, but her mother considered the match unsuitable due to their age difference. Instead, she married Albert Clifford Barney, son of a wealthy manufacturer of railway cars in Dayton, Ohio. In 1882, Alice and her family spent the summer at New York's Long Beach Hotel, where she met Oscar Wilde. This meeting inspired her to pursue art seriously, despite her husband's disapproval. Alice studied painting with Carolus-Duran in Paris and later with Claudio Castelucho. She was one of the first students of James Abbott McNeill Whistler's academie. Her art began to show a Symbolist influence, and she became known for her portraits and landscapes.

Notable Works

Some of Alice's notable works include In Shadow, a stunning oil on canvas piece created in 1910, and Natalie at Seven, a beautiful portrait that captures the innocence and charm of childhood. Her paintings are now part of the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Important contributions to the art world, Alice Pike Barney's work has been recognized for its unique style and technique. She invented and patented mechanical devices, wrote and performed in several plays and an opera, and worked to promote the arts in Washington, D.C.

Legacy

Alice Pike Barney's legacy continues to be celebrated through her art and her contributions to the development of American art. Her work can be found in various museums, including the Turak Gallery of American Art and the Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings. As a pioneer of American art, Alice Pike Barney's story serves as an inspiration to artists and art enthusiasts alike.

• Turak Gallery of American Art (United States)
• Kirby Collection of Historical Paintings (United States)

Alice Pike Barney's life and work serve as a testament to her dedication to the arts, and her legacy continues to be celebrated through her contributions to American art.