A major proponent in the traditions of impressionism in early twentieth century, Pauline Palmer influenced the world of American art beyond her native Midwest community. Primarily known for her landscapes and portraits Palmer rejected the waves of modernism that hit the United States in the 1920s and instead stayed true to the traditions of impressionism. In 1923 she established the Association of Chicago Painters and Sculptors as an alternative to the increasing number of institutions celebrating the influx of abstractionist and cubist artists.
Pauline Lennard was born in McHenry, Illinois in 1867. She attended a convent in Milwaukee as young girl before she enrolled at the Art Institute in Chicago with her family’s support and encouragement. She remained at the Institute from 1893-1898, studying with William Merritt Chase, Frank Duveneck, and Kenneth Hayes Miller.
Following graduation, Palmer attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumiére and the Académie Colarossi in Paris, France where she studied under Raphael Collin and Richard Miller. While in Paris she exhibited at the Paris Salon for four consecutive years, from 1903 to 1906, and again in 1911. Her principal teacher and friend in Paris was Richard Emil Miller. Palmer traveled extensively throughout Europe, a classic rite of passage for young aspiring artists of the era. Her time in Paris provided her with the opportunity to study under Gustave Courtois, Lucien Simon, and Rene Francois Prinet. Upon her return to the States, Palmer set up her studio in the famous Tree Studios building in Chicago.
Her husband, Dr. Albert Palmer, whom she married in 1891, encouraged his wife's development as an artist. The couple kept a summer home in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where Pauline Palmer quickly made friends with many of the Portuguese fishermen's families. She often used these families, especially their children and their daily lives, as subject matter for her paintings. Always ready to learn, even after she had become a well-known artist, Palmer engaged the artist Charles Hawthrone as her instructor during the time she spent in Provincetown. Following her husband’s death in 1920, Palmer spent much of her time in a private studio on Cape Cod.
Palmer exhibited widely during her lifetime, including expositions in Buffalo, St. Louis, and San Francisco. Her works were shown at the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, and starting in 1899, she exhibited annually at the Art Institute of Chicago for another twenty-seven years. Over her lifetime, she exhibited over 250 paintings at the Art Institute of Chicago both as a student and professional. Winning nearly all of the museum's major awards, purchase prizes, and honorable mention citations, Pauline Palmer became a household name in Chicago. She also won a gold medal at the Colovassi Academy and a bronze medal at the Academy de la Grande Chauniere. Involved in numerous organizations, Palmer was a member of the Chicago Municipal Art League, Chicago Art Guild, the Chicago Arts Club, as well as a charter member of the Chicago Women's Salon. She also served as the director of the Chicago Drama League. Palmer was elected the first woman President of the Chicago Society of Artists. She went on to also serve as both the President of The Art Institute Alumni Association and as President of the Chicago Association of Painters and Sculptors.
In 1938, Palmer embarked on an "artist's tour" of England and Scandinavian countries with her sister Marie Lennard. While in Trondheim, Norway, she became ill with pneumonia and died on August 15th. Considered by her critics and the up-and-coming artists of the day to be a traditionalist, Palmer continues to be regarded as one of the leading women in American painting. Her light and colorful compositions captured American scenes with a seeming effortlessness and freshness. Celebrated in life as "Chicago's Painter Lady," Palmer was honored twelve years after her death by the establishment of an annual award given in her honor by the Art Institute of Chicago.
Written by Hali Thurber
Chronology
1867 Born in McHenry, IL
1885 Moves to Chicago to teach art
1891 Marries Dr. Albert Elwood Palmer
1893 Exhibits at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
1896 Begins to exhibit almost annually at The Art institute of Chicago
1898 Exhibits at Exposition in Omaha, NE
1899 Begins to exhibit at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
1900-1902 Studies with various artists in Paris
1901 Exhibits at Exposition in Buffalo
1903-1906 Exhibits at Paris Salon
1904 Exhibits at Universal Exposition in St. Louis, awarded bronze medal
1907 Awarded four prizes at the Art Institute 's Chicago artists' exhibition
1911 Exhibits at Paris Salon and at Expositione de Belle Arti, Naples
1913 Solo exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago
1915 Awarded first prize at Society of Western Artists exhibition.
The Palmers begin spending summers in Provincetown, MA
1917 Take a studio at the Tree Studios building in Chicago
1918 Elected the first woman President of the Chicago Society of Artists (1918-1929)
1918-1921 Awarded silver medal at Society of Chicago Artist's exhibition
Dr. Palmer dies
Pauline Palmer begins spending more and more time in Cape Cod
1921 Awarded silver medal at Peoria Society of Allied Artists
1927 Serves as President of The Art Institute Alumni Association
1929-1931 Serves as President of Chicago Association of Painters and Sculptors
1938 Dies on August 15th in Trondheim, Norway
Awards
1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis, bronze medal
1907 Art Institute 's Chicago Artists' Exhibition
1915 Society of Western Artists exhibition, first prize
1918 Society of Chicago Artist's exhibition, silver medal
1921 Peoria Society of Allied, silver medal
Solo Exhibitions
1913 Art Institute of Chicago
1939 Art Institute of Chicago, memorial exhibition
Union League Club of Chicago, memorial exhibition
Group Exhibitions
1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago
1896 Art institute of Chicago
1898 Exposition in Omaha, NE
1899 Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Art Institute of Chicago (1899-1926)
1901 Exposition in Buffalo
1903-06 Paris Salon
1904 Universal Exposition in St. Louis
1911 Paris Salon
Expositione de Belle Arti, Naples
1915 Exposition in San Francisco
1950 Chicago Galleries Association
1984 Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Peoria, IL
Memberships
1918-29 First woman President of the Chicago Society of Artists
1927 President of The Art Institute Alumni Association
1929-31 President of Chicago Association of Painters and Sculptors
Public Collections
Works by the artist may be found at the Rockford Art Museum as well as at the Brauer Museum of Art.
Bibliography
Pauline Lennards Palmer. Richard Norton Gallery, Chicago: September 19-October 18, 2002.
Pauline Palmer: American Impressionist. Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences. Lakeview, Illinois: March 10-April 8, 1984.
Pauline Lennards Palmer AskArt.com
Peter Hastings Falk, Editor-in-Chief. Who was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Vol. 3. Madison, CT: Sound View Press, 1999. P. 2512.
Pauline Palmer. Illinois Women Artists Project, iwa.bradley.edu.