Hilda Belcher

Hilda Belcher (September 20, 1881 – April 27, 1963) was an American painter known for her oils, watercolors, portraits, and illustrations depicting individuals and landscapes, both in formal portraiture and in casual scenes of children and daily life. and Stephen Paterson Belcher, a manufacturer of stained glass. When she was a teenager, the family relocated to Newark, New Jersey, but retained their home in Vermont.

She later moved to New York City where she attended the New York School of Art. She studied with William Merritt Chase, Kenneth Hayes Miller, George Bellows and Robert Henri.

Career

After the death of her father in 1906, Belcher lived with her mother. In 1907, Belcher submitted The Checkered Dress, which may be an early portrait of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the New York Water Color Club. She became a member, and the painting was reproduced in the International Studio journal.

In 1908, Belcher won the Strathmore Prize from the New York Water Color Club for The Knitted Shawl. In 1909, she received the Beal prize for Young Girl in White. In 1910, Belcher was invited by Robert Henri to participate in the Exhibition of Independent Artists, a non-juried, non-prized show. Belcher contributed three works, The Bathing Line, Portrait of Miss Tony Nell, and The Old Ladies. She was the second woman to be elected to the National Academy of Design,

Belcher also became well known in Georgia. During the 1920s and 1930s, Belcher often taught and exhibited at the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences (1928, 1933 and 1935). There she painted landscapes of the Savannah area and scenes representative of the area's African American culture in the early part of the century.

During her lifetime, Belcher had more than 28 solo exhibitions.

Awards 1908, Strathmore Watercolor Prize, New York Water Color Club, for The Knitted Shawl. The New York Times reported "Girl Painter Wins Prize from 692 Men Competitors". 1909, Beal Prize, New York Water Color Club, for Young Girl in White, “the most meritorious color in the exhibition”. She was the second woman to receive this award. (also in 1916 & 1918) 1935, Dana Watercolor Medal 1941, Honorary master's degree from Middlebury College