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Isabella Banks Markell

American artist, 1891–1980

BiographyIsabella Banks Markell inherits her talents from two famous artists, Sir Thomas Lawrence, the great English portrait painter, and sculptor Joseph Mozier. A professional artist at thirteen, she later won many honors. During World War II she was the only woman artist permitted to paint the East River, New York City, with its war traffic of convoys, cargo ships, carriers and many activities guarded from public view. Her series of 150 etching and paintings was photographed by the New York Public Library for its files, as was given two invitation exhibitions, one by Mayor La Guardia at City Hall, the other at the Museum of the City of New York. (Pennsylvania Art Conservatory)

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