“Women, Art and Texas History” is focus of University Honors Colloquium

Dr. Emily Cutrer

“Women, Art and Texas History” will be the focus of a University Honors Colloquium featuring Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of Texas A&M University-Texarkana, on Thursday, April 7, at noon in University Center 217.

The presentation will highlight information featured in Dr. Cutrer’s book, “The Art of the Woman: The Life and Work of Elisabet Ney,” which explores the life of German-born Elisabet Ney, a sculptor who transfixed philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and left the court of Ludwig of Bavaria to put down new roots in Texas.

Born in 1833, Ney gained notoriety in Europe by sculpting the busts of such figures as Ludwig II, Schopenhauer, Garibaldi and Bismarck. In 1871, she abruptly emigrated to America and became something of a recluse until resuming her sculpting career two decades later. Her works included sculptures of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin and can be found in the Texas State Capitol, the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Dr. Cutrer’s biography of Ney makes extensive use of primary sources and was the first to appraise both Ney’s legend and individual works of art. In the book, Dr. Cutrer argues that Ney was an accomplished sculptor coming out of a neglected German neoclassical tradition and that, whatever her failures and eccentricities, she was an important catalyst to cultural activity in Texas.

Texas A&M University Press re-released the 1988 book in March of this year as part of its Ellen C. Temple Classics in Texas Women’s History series.

The event is open to the public. Pizza and cookies will be served.