Ralph Elmer Clarkson, “Jessie Heckman Hirschl,” Oil on Canvas, c. Early 20th Century

Painting

A three-quarter-length, side-view portrait, of Wallace Heckman’s daughter, Jessie. The Heckman family owned the property where the Eagle’s Nest Art Colony was located. Jessie Heckman is standing for the portrait, posing with a book, balanced on end, on a small table. The cover of the book is slightly open, and her right hand rests on top. Jessie is standing in front of a mirror, directly above which hangs a small painting. She wears her hair up, and the mirror reflects the back of her neck. The scene is dramatically lit, with her shadow cast on the wall behind the table. Jessie wears a white dress with loose fitting, elbow-length, rucked sleeves. A yellow stole is draped over her shoulders. Her left hand grazes the edge of the stole.

43 3/4 x 30″

(1861-1942)

Ralph Elmer Clarkson was born in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He studied at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Julian Academy in Paris. He also studied in Italy. He moved to Chicago in 1896 where he taught at the Art Institute and became a popular society portrait painter. Along with Oliver Dennett Grover and Frederic Clay Bartlett, (both represented in this collection), he executed murals for the Fine Arts Building in Chicago. Ralph Clarkson was an important member of the original group at the Eagle’s Nest Camp in 1896. He was the last remaining member of the original group, and his death in 1942 officially brought the colony to a close.

Ralph Clarkson’s works are also included in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Newberry Library, the Union League Club (Chicago), the University of Illinois, and the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, Illinois.