Maria Petrie

Maria Petrie (née Zimmern, 1887–1972) was a German-born artist renowned for her figurative sculpture, particularly her portrait busts. She was also known for her influential work in the field of Art Therapy.

Personal life Petrie was born in August 1887 in Frankfurt, Germany. Petrie was living in Ilkley, Yorkshire in 1926. In 1928 and 1937 Petrie was recorded as living in London.

Maria Zimmern married Francis Eric Steinthal (1886–1974), a teacher who also played rugby for England in 1913. In 1916 Maria gave birth to a son named Martin. The family were friends of Wilfred Owen when he was convalescing in Edinburgh. Her teachers in Paris included Aristide Maillol, Paul Sérusier, Maurice Denis and Théo von Rysselberghe.

Petrie exhibited a bust of G. K. Chesterton at the Royal Academy in 1926. Petrie exhibited consecutively in 1934 and 1935 with Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, showing 'Portrait of Mr A. S. Wallace' (1934) and 'Child's Portrait' (1935). In 1936 she exhibited with the Society of Women Artists. The National Portrait Gallery holds two bronze portrait busts, one depicting G. K. Chesterton of 1926 (probably exhibited at the RA), and a later work from 1959 portraying Aldous Huxley. Manchester Art Gallery has an earlier female portrait study from 1911.

Published books In 1946 Petrie's influential art therapy book 'Art and Regeneration' was published by Paul Elek. She later published a book on sculpting techniques entitled 'Modelling', published by Dryad Press in 1964.