During her lifetime, Lillian M. Genth was considered to be the most successful painter of the female nudes in America. Noted for her studies of nudes in poetic, pastoral settings, Genth was also a very successful portrait painter.

Born in Philadelphia in 1876, Genth studied at home and abroad. She received a scholarship to the Philadelphia School of Design for Women. There she studied under Elliott Daingerfield, graduating in 1900. Genth went to Europe and studied in Paris under James McNeill Whistler; while there, she painted his portrait.

Whistler's influence can be seen in Genth's work. Like Whistler, Genth chose to paint rather academic subjects such as beautiful women with subtle, exotic accents in their dress and surroundings. Both Whistler and Genth painted in a somewhat traditional style, using many of the techniques and some of the innovations of the impressionists. Genth was well received in the art world and achieved great success during her lifetime.

Genth was the recipient of many awards during her career. These included the Mary Smith Prize from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1904 and the Shaw Memorial from the National Academy of Design in 1908. Also in 1908, Genth was elected an associate member of the Academy. She died in 1953.

Memberships:
Allied Art Association
International Society artists' League
National Academy of Design
National Arts Club
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Royal Society of Arts

Public Collections:
Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Newark Museum, New Jersey

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton

Lillian Genth was born in 1876. She studied at the Philidelphia School of Design for Women and won the Elkins Scholarship in 1900 and traveled to Paris. Genth studied under Whistler for one year. He focus was on female nudes in pastoral settings. After painting 150 of these scenes and gaining significant recogntion, Genth declared that she would never pain another nude. From then on Genth painted only portraits of people in Brittney, Venice and North Africa. Genths great success is attributed to her style of painting; in an academic manner but added subtle, exotic details. She was elected Associate Member of the National Academy of Design in 1908. Her work can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum, NYC, and the National Gallery of Art in Washinton D.C. Genth died in 1953.

Biography courtesy of The Caldwell Gallery, www.antiquesandfineart.com/caldwell