English 1302 -Harper
March 23, 2015
Visual Artist: Mary Peyton Winlock
In the late 1800's to the mid 1900's, art history had a series of changes that inspired artists of various crafts to begin constructing items from all types of materials, all types of techniques, unique and unindustrialized unlike most of the nation.
Mary Peyton Winlock was born in 1867 in the city of Boston. She became active in the arts and craft movement at the early age of 21 in Boston during the 1888 through 1927. She was an award winning silversmith, jeweler, and enamelist. She education derived from the school of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1888. She also attended the Ross and Clark's class in the Principles of Design and Symmetry, Rhythm and Harmony at Harvard University in 1899. She was an avid member of the SACB and listed as a jewelry and metalwork designer. She was ranked as a Craftsman from 1901-1919 and later a Master Craftsman from 1920-1927. Mary had a workshop called Handicraft Shop, located at 1 Somerset Street, Boston.
The reason I found this artist to be of interest is due to the time period in which she exhibited and created her artwork and designs. She was part of what was known as the Boston Arts and Craft movement. Which was a movement also known as the Art Nouveau and Art Deco era. This movement opened up opportunities for women as artisans, designers, and entrepreneurs. It was believed that the simple look of arts and crafts pieces would erode the new experience of industrial consumerism. Such mass produced items made by machine were considered a disgrace to the arts community. The influence of the arts and craft movement led to decorative arts such as the works or designs of