Cecile de Wentworth

Biography

Cecile de Wentworth (1853–1933) was an American portrait painter who spent much of her life and career in France. Born Cecilia Smith in New York City, USA, she developed an interest in art at an early age and received her education at convent schools. In 1886, she moved to Paris to pursue formal art studies.

Career

She studied painting under renowned artists Alexandre Cabanel and Édouard Detaille. She became known for her portraits of prominent political, religious and historical figures, including American presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, Queen Alexandra and General John J. Pershing. Her portrait of Pope Leo XIII received a bronze medal at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, bringing her international recognition.

Achievements and Recognition

De Wentworth regularly exhibited her paintings at the Paris Salon between 1889 and 1920. In 1901, she received the French Legion of Honour and was also awarded the papal title of Marchesa. Her works entered the collections of prestigious institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris.

Death

Following her husband's death in 1931, she experienced financial difficulties. She died on August 28, 1933, in Nice, France, at the age of 80.