FASHION SKETCHES WATERCOLORS THROUGHOUT TIME 1942 STUDENT OF LUCILE HOWARD, FOUNDING MEMBER of PHILADELPHIA TEN - WOMEN ARTISTS

Item #187

“History of Costume by Gertrude Balentine, 2nd year Costume Design, January, 1942,” and “Fashions from Past to Present by Tru Balentine,” begin this delightful school assignment kept in a 9.75” x 11.5” loose-leaf notebook with over 45 watercolors/pen and ink costume designs, with another 90 pages or so of handwritten text on the subject.

The designs start with “The beginning of costume (with prehistoric man), “and covers other periods, including Egyptian costumes, Asiatic costumes, Greek costumes, Roman costumes, Middle Age costumes, the Renaissance, French costume, Colonial costumes in America, and fashions up to the 1930s.

In the back of the assignment, there is commentary attached by her teacher. It reads “Very good – more definition of folds, drapery, desirable in some cases.” This is signed “Lucile Howard.” Edith Lucile Howard was a founder and member of the Philadelphia Ten, which was a group of female artists from the United States who exhibited together from 1917-1945. She taught at the Grand Central Art Galleries and School of Art in New York and taught art history and fashion at the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, which is where I believe Tru took her class.

I couldn’t find much information on Balentine, except for: Gertrude (Balentine) Lysinger, 1920-2012. Died at age 92 in Southampton PA. Husband Herbert was a naval officer during WWII.

I imagine it must have been a thrill to have been taught by such an esteemed teacher, who herself was a student of artists Henry B. Snell and Elliott Daingerfield.

Price: $995.00