Schille - "White Houses" Abstract watercolor painting of white houses along a tree lined street

Alice Schille • American (1869-1955)

White Houses C: 1916 • Watercolor on Paper 17-1/2" x 20"
Canton Museum of Art Permanent Collection
From the James C. and Barbara J. Koppe Collection, 86.15

Today, strong independent women are accepted and admired. “You’ve come a long way baby” from a Victorian era when women were thought too brainless to vote, own property or even legally keep the money they earned. Yet these are the conventions a shy, midwestern girl in the late 1800’s faced as she embarked on a train ride, alone. Alice left her comfortable Columbus home to study art in New York City, where, according to a popular rumor, white slave traders awaited.

Alice Schille eluded the slave traders (imaginery), defied conventions and became one of the world’s most celebrated watercolor painters. She toured Europe, made Paris a virtual second home, charmed the model for Rodin’s famed sculpture “The Athlete,”, and lived a life few women of the day even aspired to live. She did it all while still maintaining her roots in Columbus, Ohio and nurturing a career as a teacher at the Columbus College of Art and Design, her alma mater.

Every summer she would sail to wherever the arts scene was sizzling. Mostly to her beloved Paris, where she fell in love with a dashing, chiseled Princeton and Cambridge-educated financier, Samuel Stockton White III, who modeled for Rodin. But, when he proposed marriage, Alice chose career. Instead, he and his future wife became Alice’s lifelong friends, as well as one of the largest art collectors of the early 20th century.

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When the leaves began to turn, Schille left her world travels and returned to her mother’s side in Columbus, where she taught art until spring called for new adventures.

This daughter of a wildly successful, French-born entrepreneur, who died when she was only 17, brought Europe’s most avant garde art to the provincial capital of Ohio. She embraced innovative artistic styles, once telling a reporter, “when it comes to working, there is too much of interest to confine myself. There would not be any incentive to work without change.”

Alice Schille lived to become the grand dame of the Columbus cultural scene. Revered as both an artist and cultural adventuress. Filled with stories of travels to Europe, Mexico and Guatemala. A woman who never really “knew her place”, choosing to define “her place” for herself.

4 Ways to Sound Smart When Viewing at The Canton Museum of Art

1.
“Schille showed a remarkable fluidity of style during her lifetime, ranging from realism to cubism. She always embraced avant garde innovation.”

2.
“Although she traveled around the world, France held a special fascination for her and was a virtual second home before the outbreak of World War I.”

3.
“You know, she was once offered a full scholarship to famed artist, William Merritt Chase’s art school in Shinnecock, NY, but declined to accept ‘something for nothing’, and ended up paying her own way at a later time.”

4.
“Schille’s work was shown in over 200 exhibitions over the course of her career, and she won numerous prestigious awards.”

Schille Timeline. Scroll over images to see timeline.

1869

Born in Columbus, Ohio. Her well-to-do father, Peter Schille, owned a soda manufacturing and bottling factory. He was born Pierre, in Paris, but moved to Ohio when only 10 years old. Although her father died when she was only 17, her mother lived to the age of 101.

1891

Entered the Columbus Art School, now the Columbus College of Art and Design, which was then housed in the local YMCA. She graduated in 1893 as the top student.

1893-1894

Studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia.

1894

Her first teaching job was as an art teacher at the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.

1897

Enrolled in one of the major art schools of the time, the Art Students League of New York. Promised her mother “not to speak to strange men or women on the train or elsewhere,” a promise soon forgotten.

1900-1904

Traveled throughout Europe, settling for an extended period of time in Paris where she furthered her studies of art. This began a lifelong love affair with Paris. Around 1900, two of her paintings were accepted for an exhibit at the Louvre Museum.

1904

The prestigious Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts accepted 5 of her works into their 1904 Spring Exhibition. Met fellow art student Samuel S. White, who became a lifelong friend and patron. At the time White was modeling for The Athlete, a sculpture by noted artist August Rodin. It is said that White once proposed marriage, but Schille preferred to pursue her career.

1904-1928

Taught at the Columbus School of Art and Design, spending most summers in Paris, painting scenes from the lives of ordinary French people. She also traveled extensively throughout America, Europe, Mexico and Guatemala. She was honored with no less than four shows of her work at the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, and was awarded several prizes.

1955

Died in Columbus, Ohio. A globe-trotting life returned full circle.

1992

Inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame.