Stuff You Missed in History Class Vinnie Ream, Part 1
Apr 1, 2024
Discussing the controversy surrounding Vinnie Ream, the first woman to receive a federal art commission in the US government at a young age. Covering debates in Congress, accusations of charm usage, and public scrutiny. Exploring her relationships with powerful men, challenges she faced, and controversies surrounding her work on a statue of Lincoln.
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Teenage Apprentice Who Entered A Sculptor’s Studio
- Vinnie Ream trained in Clark Mills’s studio as a teenager and began sculpting political busts while still working at the post office.
- Mills gave her clay and a Native American bust model; she produced a medallion that convinced him to apprentice her.
Use Patronage And Apprenticeship To Jumpstart An Art Career
- Build networks through patrons and apprenticeships if you lack formal training and money.
- Ream used Representative Rollins’s invitation and Clark Mills’s apprenticeship to enter Washington art circles and gain commissions.
Lincoln Sittings Catapulted Her Career
- Sculpting Abraham Lincoln from life in 1864 instantly raised Vinnie Ream’s profile in Washington and created demand for her work.
- Her short sittings with Lincoln and the resulting bust made politicians eager to commission her.