Eda Nemoede Casterton
Encyclopedia
Eda Nemoede Casterton was an American painter known specifically for her portrait miniature
s in watercolor, pastels and oil. She exhibited works at the Paris Salon and the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition of 1915, among others. Her works are held by the Smithsonian Institution
, The Brooklyn Museum of Art and The John H. Vanderpoel
Art Association. Her portrait of a young, clean shaven Abraham Lincoln
is well known and remains in the National Gallery of Art
.
on April 14, 1877 of German
ancestry and lived in Illinois
, Montana
and finally California
. Following the death of her father 6 March 1895 in Oconto, Wisconsin, her mother moved the family, consisting of seven brothers and sisters in addition to Eda, to Chicago
. Her mother then died in Chicago, Illinois on 8 December 1914. Nemoede began to paint in miniature, while maintaining a job as a law stenographer. Her works at that time were done in watercolor on thin sheets of ivory.
In 1905, Nemoede went to Paris and received favorable attention from the Paris Salon
, where she exhibited. The critics favored her work, and remarked it was surprising an artist who had only studied in America would display such skill. An article in the Chicago Chronicle, dated June 21, 1903, stated, "Eda Nemoede bids fair to become one of the greatest miniature painters of America and those who have seen her work praise it unstintingly."
She studied with Henry Salem Hubbell during her years in France.
Lawton S. Parker, an artist and an authority on miniature painting, after viewing the work of the young Chicago girl said, "There are miles upon miles of miniatures in the French salon every year that will not compare with the best Miss Nemoede has done. Mrs. Virginia Reynolds, acknowledged to be the most famous and the best miniaturist in America, said Miss Nemoede was the most talented pupil she ever had, and that is high praise, for Mrs. Reynolds has had classes in Paris
, New York
and Chicago
."
or pastels, as well as watercolor miniatures. William died 9 February 1948 in Evanston, Illinois, after which she moved to Montana to care for her older sister Bertha Nemoede McBride (1861–1957). She was also the great, great aunt of Valley Entertainment Monthly publisher William Nemoede.
, aged 92 years old.
Nemoede was a member of the American Society of Miniature Painters, British Royal Society of Miniature Painters, and the Pennsylvania and Chicago Societies of Miniature Painters.
She was a longtime Christian Scientist.
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
s in watercolor, pastels and oil. She exhibited works at the Paris Salon and the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition of 1915, among others. Her works are held by the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, The Brooklyn Museum of Art and The John H. Vanderpoel
John Vanderpoel
John Henry Vanderpoel was a Dutch-American artist and teacher, best known as an instructor of figure drawing. His book The Human Figure, a standard art school resource featuring numerous of his drawings based on his teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago, was published in 1907.Born in the...
Art Association. Her portrait of a young, clean shaven Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
is well known and remains in the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
.
Early years
Eda Wilhelmina Nemoede was born to Edward Carl Ludwig Nemoede and Maria Georgina Bastian in Brillion, WisconsinWisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
on April 14, 1877 of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
ancestry and lived in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
and finally California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Following the death of her father 6 March 1895 in Oconto, Wisconsin, her mother moved the family, consisting of seven brothers and sisters in addition to Eda, to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Her mother then died in Chicago, Illinois on 8 December 1914. Nemoede began to paint in miniature, while maintaining a job as a law stenographer. Her works at that time were done in watercolor on thin sheets of ivory.
The Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
, where she exhibited. The critics favored her work, and remarked it was surprising an artist who had only studied in America would display such skill. An article in the Chicago Chronicle, dated June 21, 1903, stated, "Eda Nemoede bids fair to become one of the greatest miniature painters of America and those who have seen her work praise it unstintingly."
She studied with Henry Salem Hubbell during her years in France.
Lawton S. Parker, an artist and an authority on miniature painting, after viewing the work of the young Chicago girl said, "There are miles upon miles of miniatures in the French salon every year that will not compare with the best Miss Nemoede has done. Mrs. Virginia Reynolds, acknowledged to be the most famous and the best miniaturist in America, said Miss Nemoede was the most talented pupil she ever had, and that is high praise, for Mrs. Reynolds has had classes in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
."
Return to the United States
Nemoede returned from Paris in 1908 and began teaching at the Art Institute of Chicago. She had previously studied there with Virginia Reynolds, a noted artist in her own right and considered the most accomplished miniature American painter of the time.Marriage and Family
On 29 June 1911 in Chicago, Illinois, Nemoede married William John Casterton and during the marriage gave birth to two daughters, Jane Nemoede Casterton born 20 August 1912 in Chicago, Illinois, died 15 December 1994 San Diego, California (married and divorced, Martin A. Sullivan) and Virginia Ruth Casterton born 17 February 1917 in Chicago, Illinois (living). (married William Campbell Moyer). Nemoede was forced to support the family with her art work, which had blossomed to include large portraits in oilOil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
or pastels, as well as watercolor miniatures. William died 9 February 1948 in Evanston, Illinois, after which she moved to Montana to care for her older sister Bertha Nemoede McBride (1861–1957). She was also the great, great aunt of Valley Entertainment Monthly publisher William Nemoede.
Later years
At the age of eighty-nine she was still earning her living doing portraits. Due to concern regarding her advancing age, Nemoede's daughter Virginia Casterton Moyer convinced her to relocate to California. She died 15 November 1969, at Palos Verdes Estates, CaliforniaPalos Verdes Estates, California
Palos Verdes Estates is a city, incorporated in 1939, in Los Angeles County, California, USA on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The city was masterplanned by the noted American landscape architect and planner Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. The population was 13,438 at the 2010 census, up from 13,340 in the...
, aged 92 years old.
Awards and Memberships
Nemoede received Honorable Mention at the International Art Union (Paris) in 1907 and 1908 and was awarded a Silver Medal at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915 and a Bronze medal at the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia of 1926.Nemoede was a member of the American Society of Miniature Painters, British Royal Society of Miniature Painters, and the Pennsylvania and Chicago Societies of Miniature Painters.
She was a longtime Christian Scientist.