GLOUCESTER, MASS.- The works of Mary Blood Mellen (1819-1886) and Emily Sargent (1857-1936), two talented 19th century female artists, are on display at the Cape Ann Museum. “Emily Sargent, A Glimpse into her World” is on view now through May 7, 2023 and “The Art of Mary Blood Mellen” can be viewed January 13 through April 2, 2023.

Although often thought of in terms of her mentor, Fitz Henry Lane, Mellen was a talented and accomplished artist in her own right who commands a place in the history of art on Cape Ann. To better understand Mellen and her artistic skills, the Cape Ann Museum is delighted to present this special exhibition of her work, on view in the center of the Lane Galleries from January 13 to April 2, 2023.

“There is a rich tradition of women artists associated with Cape Ann, now and in the past,” said Museum Director, Oliver Barker, “…and CAM with the generous support of local individual and institutional lenders is thrilled to be able to spotlight the work of both Mary Blood Mellen and Emily Sargent in special exhibitions now open to the public.”

Born in 1819, Mellen grew up in central Massachusetts and in 1840 married Rev. Charles W. Mellen, a Universalist minister. Fifteen years later, Charles Mellen’s brother, who was also a minister, was called to serve at Gloucester’s First Universalist Church. It was probably because of that posting that Mellen visited Gloucester and established a friendship with Lane. Information gleaned from a variety of sources tells us that Mellen quickly became Lane’s student and collaborator. Lane gave her access to his preliminary drawings and allowed her to assist him on at least one of his canvases. Stylistic examination of numerous Lane paintings in the Museum’s collection suggests that she may have had a hand in many of them.

“Scholars today point to subtle and important differences that distinguish each artist’s work,” said the Museum’s Chief Curator, Martha Oaks. These differences include Lane’s eye for detail and his genius at capturing it with crisp and precise lines; his skill at painting vessels so that they appear to be floating in the water, rather than bobbing on top of it is also often called out. In contrast, Mellen’s work displays a preference for a more vivid color palette and a tendency towards softer, less meticulous brushwork, often resulting in a more painterly feel to her work.

“Emily Sargent, A Glimpse into her World,” is on view as part of the Museum’s Level 3 Galleries, and includes works done by Emily Sargent, her brother John Singer Sargent, and their uncle Winthrop Sargent, all of whom were accomplished artists. As Emily’s watercolors are a recent discovery, distributed by the Sargent family, they are the focus of the exhibition.

Born in Italy to American parents, Emily Sargent spent most of her early life in Europe with her family. Sargent lived a vibrant and creative existence and was the frequent traveling companion of her brother John. Although not given the same opportunities as her brother to train as an artist, during her travels Emily Sargent produced over 400 watercolors, capturing glimpses of market bazaars in Egypt, warm sunny beaches, and the Sargent family home life. She was also an excellent copyist and her “master copies” of works by J.M.W. Turner and others display her command of the medium of watercolor and her keen powers of observation.

While “Emily Sargent, A Glimpse of her World” offers just a small sampling of Emily Sargent’s work, a more extensive exhibition to mark the recent discovery of her work and gift of these pieces to the Sargent House Museum is planned for the summer of 2023. That exhibition will include all 15 of the watercolors recently discovered in England and gifted to the Sargent House Museum.