biography of Fairchild Mary LOW (1858-1946)

Birth place: New Haven, CT

Death place: Bronxville, NY

Addresses: Paris, France; New Haven; Bronxville, NY, from c.1909

Profession: Painter

Studied: St. Louis Sch. FA; Carolus-Duran in Paris; Acad. Julian, Paris with Bouguereau, Lefebvre & T. Robert-Fleury

Exhibited: Paris Salon, 1886-1907; SNBA, 1895, 1898-99; PAFA Ann., 1895-1909; Universal Expo, Paris, France, 1889; Columbian Expo, Chicago, 1893 (medal); Paris Expo, 1900 (medal); Pan-Am. Expo, Buffalo, 1901 (medal); Dresden, 1902 (gold); SAA, 1902 (prize); Normandy Expo, Rouen, 1903 (gold); Marseilles, 1905 (gold); St. Brieux, France, 1906 (gold); frequently at AIC, 1891-1916; NAD, 1907-42; Corcoran Gal. biennials, 1910, 1923; Salons of Am., 1925, 1934

Member: SAA, 1896; ANA, 1906; NAC; Int. Women's AC, London; Soc. Nat. des Beaux-Arts, Paris (assoc.)

Work: Mus. Rouen, France; Union Lg. Club, Chicago; City Art Mus., St. Louis; Mus. Vernon, Normandy; Mus. Les Andelys, Normandy; AIC

Comments: After marrying Frederick MacMonnies in 1888, the couple resided in Paris and, during the 1890s, spent summers in Giverny. The MacMonnies later divorced and Mary Fairchild married painter Will H. Low in 1909. Signature note: Her paintings from c.1882-88 are usually signed "M. Fairchild" in block letters. Those from 1888-97 are signed either "M. MacMonnies" or "Mary MacMonnies" in a cursive style. From 1909-on, she signed as "M. Low" or "Mary Low."

Sources: WW40; Fink, American Art at the Nineteenth-Century Paris Salons, 368-69; Falk, Exh. Record Series.