Sketch of Girl with Practice Penmanship
Dublin Core
Title
Sketch of Girl with Practice Penmanship
Subject
Sketches—19th century, Drawings—19th century, Pen and ink drawing—19th century, Women artists—19th century, Shelter Island (N.Y.)—History, Sylvester Manor (Shelter Island, N.Y.), Plantation life—New York—Shelter Island, Gardiner, Mary Catherine L'Hommedieu, Horsford, Mary L'Hommedieu Gardiner
Description
Mary Catherine L’Hommedieu Gardiner (née L’Hommedieu) (1806-1838)
Many wealthy white women in the 19th century saw their worlds increasingly enriched by art. Mary Catherine L’Hommedieu Gardiner, the likely artist behind this sketch, was one such woman (it could have also been produced by her daughter, who was also named Mary. It is unclear.) While it would be years before they would be taken seriously as professional artists, drawing, painting, and writing were encouraged as leisure activities for women of this social class. As time went on and family capital increased, women had fewer domestic responsibilities than their predecessors. One might argue that the cultivation of creative hobbies provided evidence that a girl had excessive free time and, it follows, familial wealth; thus, being so “accomplished” made a young woman more eligible for marriage.
This particular item was chosen not only because of its visual interest and singularity in relation to other archival materials, but because it demonstrates this increasing engagement with art, and thus the idleness and relatively carefree nature of the lives of white women at the Manor during this time. There is an intimacy and familiarity to the scribbles and signatures in the margins of the page. We also recognize this as something people (school-age girls in particular) still do today.
Mary Catherine married Samuel Smith Gardiner in 1823, and they had three children together before she died at the age of 32. Her daughter Mary, the other possible creator of this work, also died in her early 30s.
Many wealthy white women in the 19th century saw their worlds increasingly enriched by art. Mary Catherine L’Hommedieu Gardiner, the likely artist behind this sketch, was one such woman (it could have also been produced by her daughter, who was also named Mary. It is unclear.) While it would be years before they would be taken seriously as professional artists, drawing, painting, and writing were encouraged as leisure activities for women of this social class. As time went on and family capital increased, women had fewer domestic responsibilities than their predecessors. One might argue that the cultivation of creative hobbies provided evidence that a girl had excessive free time and, it follows, familial wealth; thus, being so “accomplished” made a young woman more eligible for marriage.
This particular item was chosen not only because of its visual interest and singularity in relation to other archival materials, but because it demonstrates this increasing engagement with art, and thus the idleness and relatively carefree nature of the lives of white women at the Manor during this time. There is an intimacy and familiarity to the scribbles and signatures in the margins of the page. We also recognize this as something people (school-age girls in particular) still do today.
Mary Catherine married Samuel Smith Gardiner in 1823, and they had three children together before she died at the age of 32. Her daughter Mary, the other possible creator of this work, also died in her early 30s.
Creator
Mary Catherine L'Hommedieu Gardiner or Mary L'Hommedieu Gardiner Horsford
Source
Sylvester Manor Archive, MSS 208, Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries
Publisher
Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries
Date
Undated, circa 1810-1855 (estimated dates have been corrected)
Rights
Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Type
Sketch
Files
Citation
Mary Catherine L'Hommedieu Gardiner or Mary L'Hommedieu Gardiner Horsford, “Sketch of Girl with Practice Penmanship,” Sylvester Manor, accessed September 17, 2026, https://aphnyu.org/creatingdigitalhistory/2024/sylvestermanor/items/show/6.