Mary Louise McLaughlin
Encyclopedia
Mary Louise McLaughlin was an American ceramic
painter and studio potter
from Cincinnati, Ohio
, and the main local competitor of Maria Longworth Nichols Storer
, who founded Rookwood Pottery. Like Storer, McLaughlin was one of the originators of the art pottery movement that swept the United States
.
company in the city. Showing an artistic ability at a young age, McLaughlin did not take formal art lessons until 1871 at a private school
for girls. At Cincinnati's School of Design in 1874, McLaughlin took a porcelain
painting class offered by a Mr. Benn Pitman. During an exhibition by Mary Longworth Nichols Storer at the school that same year, McLaughlin's interest in painting china ripened.
In 1875 the two women's works were featured at The Centennial Tea Party to critical acclaim, and in 1876 both women had exhibitions at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. While at the exhibition McLaughlin was especially taken by the works presented by Haviland & Co.
of France
, who showcased pieces that featured paintings using the underglaze
technique. Since this was a unique advancement at the time, McLaughlin returned to Cincinnati with the determination to figure out the secret to their method. She also wrote a book on china painting upon her return which sold many copies (China Painting: A Practical Manual for the Use of Amateurs in the Decoration of Hard Porcelain). McLaughlin sold more of her works at the exhibition than Storer did, thus starting a competition of sorts between the two women.
In 1877 she figured out how to paint the porcelain under the glaze, and consequently became the first artist in the United States to implement the underglaze technique. Eventually other artists began utilizing this same technique, and in 1879 McLaughlin founded the Cincinnati Pottery Club. While it might seem logical that Storer would join the group, she declined an invitation to do so. This rivalry is likely what caused her to start Rookwood Pottery in the first place. Each member of the club had their pottery made at the Frederick Dallas Hamilton Road Pottery factory, and they would meet at the Women’s Art Museum Association located on fourth street in downtown Cincinnati. Eventually the group moved their meeting to the Dallas shop when the association moved to Cincinnati Music Hall. When Rookwood Pottery was opened, many of the workers from Frederick Dallas joined her team and effectively hindered some of the aspirations of McLaughlin and her group.
In 1880 she published another work, this one titled Pottery Decoration under the Glaze. By this time the technique was already being implemented in other parts of the country. That following year Frederick Dallas died and his shop closed, leaving McLaughlin and her club to rent a room at Rookwood Pottery. In 1883 Storer evicted the club due to the conflict of interest involved in housing them, though she continued to have her pottery pieces made at Rookwood. While the club continued to showcase their work, they were outshined by Rookwood during their tenure. This in part caused McLaughlin to take up portrait painting
in the 1890s, taking classes from Frank Duveneck
in what was his first painting lesson. In 1890 Rookwood had changed ownership, and a William W. Taylor was the new owner. Taylor, under the direction of Storer, started making claims that McLaughlin was not the true discoverer of the underglaze method. He went so far as to demand the statement by Clara Chipman Newton in a 1893 pottery catalog stating McLaughlin was the founder of the technique in America be withdrawn. This never happened, but the incident effectively terminated any remnants of a relationship the two women had once shared.
In the 1890s Mclaughlin returned to pottery, this time working out of her own backyard in the studio pottery
style (the hardest of its kind). She effectively went from painting porcelain to creating it. In 1906 she gave up pottery and began writing again. She died January 19, 1939 at age ninety-one.
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
painter and studio potter
Studio pottery
Studio pottery is made by modern artists working alone or in small groups, producing unique items of pottery in small quantities, typically with all stages of manufacture carried out by one individual. Much studio pottery is tableware or cookware but an increasing number of studio potters produce...
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, and the main local competitor of Maria Longworth Nichols Storer
Maria Longworth Nichols Storer
Maria Longworth Nichols Storer was the founder of Rookwood Pottery of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, a patron of fine art and the granddaughter of the wealthy Cincinnati businessman Nicholas Longworth .-Biography:Born Maria Longworth on March 20, 1849 to Joseph Longworth, Maria was born in...
, who founded Rookwood Pottery. Like Storer, McLaughlin was one of the originators of the art pottery movement that swept the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Mary Louise McLaughlin was born to a wealthy family of Cincinnati, her father being the owner of a successful dry goodsDry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
company in the city. Showing an artistic ability at a young age, McLaughlin did not take formal art lessons until 1871 at a private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
for girls. At Cincinnati's School of Design in 1874, McLaughlin took a porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
painting class offered by a Mr. Benn Pitman. During an exhibition by Mary Longworth Nichols Storer at the school that same year, McLaughlin's interest in painting china ripened.
In 1875 the two women's works were featured at The Centennial Tea Party to critical acclaim, and in 1876 both women had exhibitions at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. While at the exhibition McLaughlin was especially taken by the works presented by Haviland & Co.
Haviland & Co.
Haviland & Co. is a manufacturer of Limoges porcelain.-History:David Haviland was an American businessman from New York dealing with porcelain. While seeking out new business interests, he arrived in Limoges, France and by 1842, he was able to send his first shipment of Limoges porcelain to the...
of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, who showcased pieces that featured paintings using the underglaze
Underglaze
Underglaze is a method of decorating ceramic articles, the decoration is applied to the surface before it is glazed. Because the glaze will subsequently cover it such decoration is completely durable, but because the subsequent glost firing is at a higher temperature than used in on-glaze...
technique. Since this was a unique advancement at the time, McLaughlin returned to Cincinnati with the determination to figure out the secret to their method. She also wrote a book on china painting upon her return which sold many copies (China Painting: A Practical Manual for the Use of Amateurs in the Decoration of Hard Porcelain). McLaughlin sold more of her works at the exhibition than Storer did, thus starting a competition of sorts between the two women.
In 1877 she figured out how to paint the porcelain under the glaze, and consequently became the first artist in the United States to implement the underglaze technique. Eventually other artists began utilizing this same technique, and in 1879 McLaughlin founded the Cincinnati Pottery Club. While it might seem logical that Storer would join the group, she declined an invitation to do so. This rivalry is likely what caused her to start Rookwood Pottery in the first place. Each member of the club had their pottery made at the Frederick Dallas Hamilton Road Pottery factory, and they would meet at the Women’s Art Museum Association located on fourth street in downtown Cincinnati. Eventually the group moved their meeting to the Dallas shop when the association moved to Cincinnati Music Hall. When Rookwood Pottery was opened, many of the workers from Frederick Dallas joined her team and effectively hindered some of the aspirations of McLaughlin and her group.
In 1880 she published another work, this one titled Pottery Decoration under the Glaze. By this time the technique was already being implemented in other parts of the country. That following year Frederick Dallas died and his shop closed, leaving McLaughlin and her club to rent a room at Rookwood Pottery. In 1883 Storer evicted the club due to the conflict of interest involved in housing them, though she continued to have her pottery pieces made at Rookwood. While the club continued to showcase their work, they were outshined by Rookwood during their tenure. This in part caused McLaughlin to take up portrait painting
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
in the 1890s, taking classes from Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck was an American figure and portrait painter.-Youth:Duveneck was born in Covington, Kentucky, the son of German immigrant Bernard Decker. Decker died when Frank was only a year old and his widow remarried Joseph Duveneck...
in what was his first painting lesson. In 1890 Rookwood had changed ownership, and a William W. Taylor was the new owner. Taylor, under the direction of Storer, started making claims that McLaughlin was not the true discoverer of the underglaze method. He went so far as to demand the statement by Clara Chipman Newton in a 1893 pottery catalog stating McLaughlin was the founder of the technique in America be withdrawn. This never happened, but the incident effectively terminated any remnants of a relationship the two women had once shared.
In the 1890s Mclaughlin returned to pottery, this time working out of her own backyard in the studio pottery
Studio pottery
Studio pottery is made by modern artists working alone or in small groups, producing unique items of pottery in small quantities, typically with all stages of manufacture carried out by one individual. Much studio pottery is tableware or cookware but an increasing number of studio potters produce...
style (the hardest of its kind). She effectively went from painting porcelain to creating it. In 1906 she gave up pottery and began writing again. She died January 19, 1939 at age ninety-one.