The Mary Smith Prize (defunct) was a prestigious art prize awarded to women artists by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. It recognized the best work by a Philadelphia woman artist at PAFA's annual exhibition — one that showed "the most originality of subject, beauty of design and drawing, and finesse of color and skill of execution". The prize was founded in 1879 by Russell Smith in memory of his deceased daughter, artist Mary Russell Smith. It was awarded from 1879 to 1968.
Prize In the nineteenth century, women artists were rarely awarded major prizes. They were mostly limited to prizes designated for them. But rare exceptions included: Anna Elizabeth Klumpke, who won the 1889 Temple Gold Medal at PAFA; Mary Hazelton, who won the 1896 Hallgarten Prize at the National Academy of Design; and Cecilia Beaux, who won the 1899 Carnegie Prize at the Carnegie Museum of Art and the 1900 Temple Gold Medal at PAFA.
Initially, the Mary Smith Prize carried a cash prize of $100, which was increased to $300 in 1960. Cecilia Beaux had won this prize four times before she was awarded the Temple Gold Medal.
Other 19th-century prizes for women artists were the Dodge Prize at the National Academy of Design and the Shaw Prize at the Society of American Artists.
Mary Russell Smith Mary Russell Smith was the daughter of landscape and theatrical scenery painter William Thompson Russell Smith (Russell Smith) (1812–96) and amateur artist Mary Priscilla Wilson Smith (1819–74). Both of her parents exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Mary and her brother, Xanthus Russell Smith, both developed an interest in painting. Xanthus attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Mary exhibited her paintings of rabbits, chicks, and other animals there 1859 to 1869, and again between 1876 and 1878.
Russell Smith established the Mary Smith Prize following her death. Mary Russell Smith had designated that upon her death the proceeds of the sale of her paintings should be used to fund the prize, to be awarded to women artists.
Recipients Year Artist Image Work Collection Notes1879Susan Macdowell EakinsPortrait of a Gentleman and DogTaubman Museum of Art,Roanoke, VirginiaPortrait of the artist's father.1880Catherine A. JanvierOld-Fashioned Music(The Guitar Player)Private collection1881Emily SartainMarie1882Mary K. TrotterMay1883Emily SartainMetelill1884Lucy D. HolmePetronaPetrona, from ArtNet.1885Cecilia BeauxLes Derniers Jours d'Enfance(The Last Days of Infancy)Les Derniers Jours d'Enfance , from PAFA.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine ArtsPortrait of the artist's sister, Etta Beaux Drinker,and nephew Henry.Exhibited: 1887 Paris Salon1886No exhibition1887Cecilia BeauxA Little Girl (Fanny Travis Cochran)A Little Girl , from PAFA.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts1888Elizabeth F. BonsallPaying the Model1889Elizabeth Wentworth RobertsDie Flucht (The Flight)1890Alice Barber StephensPortrait of a Boy1891Cecilia BeauxPortrait (pastel)1892Cecilia BeauxPortrait1893No exhibition1894Maria L. KirkPortrait1895Gabrielle D. ClementsGranite Cutting at Cape Ann1896Elizabeth H. WatsonPortrait of Reverend Dr. Watson1897Elizabeth F. BonsallHot MilkHot Milk, from PAFA.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts1898Caroline PeartOnce upon a TimeOnce upon a TimePhillips Museum of Art,Franklin & Marshall College1899Carol H. BeckStudyFollowing the artist's death in 1908, the Carol H.Beck Gold Medal was founded in her memory.1900Mary F. R. ClayPortrait of Irene K.Honorable mention: Janet Wheeler1901Janet WheelerPortrait of Mrs. Louise Starr1902Elinor EarleFire Light1903Jessie Willcox SmithA Mother's Days(set of 8 watercolor illustrations)Published in Scribner's Monthly Magazine,December 1902.1904Lillian M. GenthPeasant Houses1905Elizabeth Shippen Greenset of 12 watercolor illustrations for"The Thousand Quilt" (short story)Annie Hamilton Donnell, "The Thousand Quilt,"Harper's Monthly Magazine, December 1904.1906Alice Mumford RobertsTwo Vaudeville Stars1907Mary Smyth PerkinsCows1908Elizabeth Sparhawk-JonesRoller Skates1909Martha WalterPortrait1910Alice Mumford RobertsThe Morning Air1911Alice Kent StoddardPortrait of Elizabeth Sparhawk-JonesPennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts1912Elizabeth Sparhawk-JonesIn the SpringDes Moines Art Center, Iowa1913Alice Kent StoddardLittle Girl Cutting Dolls1914Nina B. WardElizabethElizabeth, from PAFA.Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts1915Gertrude A. LambertCarpet Rags1916Nancy M. FergusonIn Provincetown1917Elizabeth F. WashingtonWinterWinter (painting), from SIRIS.1918Helen K. McCarthyFarms in Hill Country1919Juliet White GrossOn the Hill1920Mildred B. MillerIn the WindowIn the Window, International Studio, vol. 72 (1920).1921Katherine PattonDeep in the Woods1922Mary Townsend MasonStill Life with Fruit1923Isabel Branson CartwrightPortrait: H.B.S.1924Lillian B. MeeserThe Green Bottle1925Mary ButlerFlood Tide1926Wenonah BellStill Life1927Pearl Aiman Van SciverNew Hope1928Laura D. S. LaddStill Life and Dahlias1929Edith McMurtrieHarpooning Horse Mackerel1930Grace GemberlingRocks and Flowers1931Mildred B. MillerYuanshi Kuo1932Virginia Armitage McCallWaldron Academy, Overbrook1933Catherine Morris WrightAfter Lunch1934Elizabeth F. WashingtonThe Bend in the Creek1935Margaretta S. HinchmanPortrait of a Nun1936Alice T. RobertsT'Ang Horses1937Henriette WyethPeter HurdEl Paso Museum of Art1938Irene DenneyThe "5 and 10"1939Mary Townsend MasonFlowers1940Frances CowanWetzel's Kitchen1941Sarah BlakesleeAlong the River1942Faye SwengelBucks County Farmer1943Margaretta S. HinchmanI Know the Lord Laid His Hand on Me1944Doris Kunzie WeidnerHolliday's Mill1945Catherine GrantCaptain Charlie and the Hawk's Nest1946Doris Kunzie WeidnerDeserted Farm1947Agnes AllenPortrait of J. Somers SmithThe State in Schuylkill, Philadelphia1948Violet OakleyChrist and the Woman of SamariaPanel V (right), from First Presbyterian Church in Germantown.First Presbyterian Church in Germantown,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1949Catherine GrantThe Villa Marie1950Marie-Celeste FaddenFrench Child on Train1951Rita Wolpe BarnettTo the Earth1952Alice T. RobertsIpswich Sand Dunes, No. 21953Elsie ManvilleYellow Hat1954Dora BortinRussian Tea Service1955No exhibition1956No prize awarded1957No exhibition1958Jane Sperry EisenstatDead Opossum1959No exhibition1960Cecilia FinbergLandscape1961No exhibition1962Elizabeth C. OsborneGirl Sleeping1963No exhibition1964Virginia Armitage McCallDahlia: Still Life1965No exhibition1966Mitzi MelnicoffChildren's Hour1967No exhibition1968Edna AndradeSpace Frame DLast Mary Smith Prize awarded
See also Beck Gold Medal Temple Gold Medal Widener Gold Medal
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