Anna Richards Brewster

The Backs, Cambridge

Anna Richards Brewster (1870–1952) was an accomplished American artist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her artistic lineage included a poet-playwright mother and a landscape painter father. She studied at Cowles Art School in Boston and under William Merritt Chase and John LaFarge in New York. Notably, she won the Dodge Prize from the National Academy in 1890. Brewster's creative journey led her to Europe, where she painted alongside her father and studied in Paris. Settling in London in 1896, she exhibited at the Royal Academy and illustrated various publications. In 1905, she married and traveled extensively with her husband, further inspiring her art. Despite personal tragedy, including the loss of her son, Brewster continued to contribute to the artistic community. She was a founding member of the Scarsdale Art Association and created notable commissions, including a Red Cross poster during WWI. Brewster's legacy was revived posthumously, with exhibitions at prestigious institutions and growing interest in her work. She passed away in 1952, leaving a diverse body of art encompassing paintings, sculptures, and illustrations. Today, her contributions to late Victorian and early 20th-century art, particularly as a successful international woman artist, continue to gain appreciation and recognition.