Elizabeth O'Neill Verner (American/South Carolina, 1883-1979), "Portrait of a Man with Cane and Pipe", pastel on silk laid on board, faintly signed lower left, 9 1/16 in. x 8 11/16 in., unframed. Note: Charleston native Elizabeth O?Neill Verner was one of South Carolina?s most prominent artists of the early twentieth century ? a matriarch of the Charleston Renaissance. Working primarily in pastel and printmaking, she depicted the architecture, street scenes and citizens of her hometown. Verner received early art training from Alice Ravenel Huger Smith followed by a stint at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. In 1907, she married and had two children, with art-making a pursuit occupying only her spare time for many years. In 1923, she opened a printmaking studio and produced images of Charleston and its environs. Upon the unexpected death of her husband in 1925, Verner sought out commissions to provide a steady income and became a dedicated historic preservationist of nearby municipalities and institutions. In addition to her focus on architecture, she also excelled as a portraitist and figure painter. Her distinctive pastel drawings of Charleston?s flower women and vegetable vendors are among her best-known works. At one point, the mayor of Charleston threatened to outlaw the activities of the vendors, but Verner came to their defense. Not only was she indebted to them as models for her work, but she believed in their contributions to the charming fabric of Charleston. Verner is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum and leading museums across the South.Ref.: ?Verner, Elizabeth O?Neill (1883-1979).? The Johnson Collection. www.thejohnsoncollection.org. Accessed May 2, 2024.

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