After the Bullfight

1871

Bishop Domenec commissions copies after Correggio

Mary’s work attracts the attention of Bishop Michael Domenec of Pittsburgh, who commissions two copies of paintings by Correggio in Parma, Italy, and advances her enough money to cover her travel and part of her stay.

autumn 1871

Back to Europe with Emily Sartain

With Emily Sartain, an artist from a well-regarded Philadelphia family, Mary sets out for Europe, bound for Parma. She is wild to get to work and longs to see a fine painting again.

1872

Success at the 1872 Paris Salon

Within months of her return to Europe, her painting “Two Women Throwing Flowers During Carnival” is well received at the Salon of 1872 and is bought.

c. 1873

Spain: Madrid and Seville

Having finished the bishop’s commission, Mary travels to Madrid and Seville and paints a group of Spanish subjects, among them “Spanish Dancer Wearing a Lace Mantilla” (1873).

1874

Decides to settle in France

In 1874 Mary decides to take up residence in France; her sister Lydia joins her and they share an apartment, and she opens a studio in Paris.

1875

Degas’s pastels in a shop window

In an art dealer’s window Mary sees pastels by Edgar Degas; she later recalled flattening her nose against the glass to absorb all she could of his art. It was then, she said, that she saw art as she wanted to see it, and it changed her life.