Page:Women in the Fine Arts From the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentiet.djvu/507

386 Greuze were the work of his pupil. In the same way she imitated Prud'hon, and this critic thinks it by no means certain that the master finished her work, as has been alleged.

In the Museum at Nancy are Mile. Mayer's portraits of Mme. and Mile. Voiant; in the Museum of Dijon is an ideal head by her, and in the Bordeaux Gallery is her picture, called "Confidence." "Innocence Prefers Love to Riches" and the "Torch of Venus" are well-known works by Mile. Mayer. Mesdag-van Houten, S. Gold medal at Amsterdam, 1884; bronze medal, Paris Exposition, 1889. Born at Groningen, 1834. In 1856 she married Mesdag, who, rather late in life decided to follow the career of a painter. His wife, not wishing to be separated from him in any sense, resolved on the same profession, and about 1870 they began their study. Mme. Mesdag acquired her technique with difficulty, and her success was achieved only as the result of great perseverance and continual labor. The artists of Oosterbeck and Brussels, who were her associates, materially aided her by their encouragement. She began the study of drawing at the age of thirty, and her first attempt in oils was made seven years later. Beginning with single twigs and working over them patiently she at length painted whole trees, and later animals. She came to know the peculiarities of nearly all native trees. She built a studio in the woods of Scheveningen, and there developed her characteristics—close observation and careful reproduction of details.