Bessie Potter Vonnoh, “A Chance Acquaintance,” Bronze, c. Late 19th Century-1912

Sculpture

This statue sits on a rectangular base and depicts a child in a semi-reclined position. The child is nude. Her hair is in a wavy bob and she sports a wreath of flowers. She appears to be pushing herself up from a side-lying position to look more closely at a large butterfly perched on her top (left) leg. Her right leg is on the bottom and is bent just past 90 degrees. The left leg is nearer to straight; its knee nested just above the right foot.

15 3/4 x 7 1/2 x 13″

(1872-1955)

Bessie Potter was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after the death of her father, she and her mother moved to Chicago to be near family. At age 14 or 15 she was working on Saturdays for Lorado Taft. The money she earned enabled her to start taking courses at the Art Institute.

Potter studied under Taft from 1890-1891.She was one of the female sculptors who helped Taft with sculptures for the Horticulture Building for the Columbian Exposition in 1893. These women were collectively known as “The White Rabbits.”

In 1894 she opened a studio in the Atheneum Building. In 1899 Potter married New York painter Robert Vonnoh.

Potter Vonnoh specialized in portrait sculptures and small statuettes of women and children known as “Potterines.”