(portrait of woman with stringed instrument)

(portrait of woman with stringed instrument)

This black-and-white charcoal drawing is a portrait of a woman. She wears a kimono or robe. It has a decorative collar and is belted around her waist She is playing a stringed instrument with a long, narrow neck. Her body is turned to her right as she gazes into the distance. Her lips are pursed and her cheeks are round, as if she is whistling or singing.

Sister Philomene McAuley (born Agnes Mary McAuley) was born on June, 21 1888 in Bellville, Ontario. She entered the the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet from Grafton, North Dakota in 1910. She took her first vows in 1912 and final vows in 1917. She taught elementary school in Watertown, SD; St. Peter, MN; and St. Paul, MN before teaching undergraduate art and art history at The College of St. Catherine (CSC) in St. Paul, MN. Sister Philomene began teaching as a professor at CSC in 1919 and was named head of the art department in 1933. She received her Bachelor of Philosophy in Art and Education from the University of Chicago in 1929 and her Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1931. She continued her education through post-graduate programs at the Minneapolis School of Arts, the University of Minnesota, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Fine Arts Academy in Chicago, the School of Arts and Crafts in Berkeley and the California School of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. In addition to continuing education, she traveled to many art association conferences across the United States. Sharing a passion for the relationship between art and Catholic values, Sister Philomene was an active member of the Catholic Art Association, and served as the secretary of the organization from 1943 to 1946. She died on December 6, 1946 in St. Paul. Sources: College of St. Catherine (1946 December, 12). Department head dies. The Catherine Wheel [St. Paul, MN]. College of St. Catherine (1935, October 4). Art teacher exhibits charcoal drawings: Chicago Academy of Fine Arts compliments Sister Philomene on work. The Catherine Wheel [St. Paul, MN].

1935

charcoal

18 x 24 inches

paper

drawing

drawing

2013.0.936