Frances C. Houston
Frances C. Lyons Houston (January 14, 1851 or 1867 or January 17, 1867 -1906) was an American painter. Houston was born in Hudson, Michigan. She died in Windsor, Vermont in October 1906. Houston primarily worked in oils, but also did work in watercolors, pottery, goldsmithing, and jewelry making. Her primary subjects were portraits. Among her subjects noteworthy subjects was the actress Ethel Barrymore. Life and career. Houston was born in Hudson, Michigan, though her date of birth is debated as being either January 14, 1851 or 1867 or January 17, 1867. Houston studied in Paris with the  French artists Jules Lefebvre and Gustave Boulanger at the Julian Academy. She also lived in Italy for a short time. She married William C. Houston, a Boston businessman. After her marriage she took classes at the school of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she took the classes of Thomas Dewing. Dewing and Houston would remain close for the remainder of her life. Dewing painted a portrait of her which is currently on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Dewing would later encourage Houston and her husband to move to Cornish, New Hampshire, where Dewing had a  summer home. At this time Cornish had a thriving art community which included Augusutus Saint-Gaudens, George de Forest Brush, and Charles Platt, among others. Houston had a summer home in Cornish from 1891 to 1906. She was popular among the other members of the community, praised for her genial and kind personality. Houston often painted portraits of other Cornish residents. Houston was a member of the Boston Water Color Club, the Boston Society of Arts & Crafts, the New York Water Color Club. Houston was an avid gardener. She was also active in the local community. Houston founded "The Mothers  and Daughters' Club" with another woman of the Cornish community, Laura Walker, wife of Henry O. Walker. The group was started with the goal of allowing the women who lived in Cornish seasonally to become closer to the wives of the local farmers. The club involved group readings, travel talks, rug and carpet creation, and weaving. Houston made designs for rug weaving, and those made by the club were sold starting in 1903. Part of the purpose of weaving the rugs and carpets was to teach women about art. Later in life Houston shifted her focus away from painting, though  she continued to exhibit, particularly at the Boston, New York, and Philadelphia Exhibitions. After Houston passed away, Dewing convinced the editor of "Century Magazine" to reproduce Houston's portrait of Ethel Barrymore and wrote that it was her last work before she passed. Dewing also praised her work for its beauty and technique. Houston's works were exhibited after her death at Doll & Richards in Boston in 1908, from March 26 to April 7. Exhibitions. Houston exhibited at the Boston Art Club in 1880 and at an Atlanta Exposition in an unknown year, where she received a bronze medal. Houston  exhibited at the Great Art Loan in Detroit, Michigan in 1883. Houston first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1889 with a study of "Woman of Capri." Houston exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1890 with "Head of a Capri girl". At this time she had an address at 115, Rione Amedeo, Naples. She also exhibited in 1900 at the Paris World's Fair with a portrait, where she received an honorable mention award. Houston also exhibited at the Worcester Art Museum in 1903. Houston's work "Indian Summer" was exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904 for which  she received a medal, and she also showed two pieces of jewelry. Houston exhibited at the St. Botolph Club in Boston in 1905.