Laura W. Maxwell

Laura W. Maxwell (October 13, 1877 – August 7, 1967), also known as Laura Maxwell, was an American artist. She played a role in the artistic community of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where she settled. Maxwell contributed to the establishment of the Carmel Art Association. Maxwell's artistic ability extended beyond the borders of Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula, as her floral paintings, marines, and landscapes in both oil and watercolor gained recognition in various art centers worldwide. Her works reached audiences as far as Paris, France, and made their way to exhibitions in Peking, China.

Early life
Maxwell was born on October 13, 1877, in Carson City, Nevada. She was the daughter of Colonel Warren Wasson (1833–1896) and Grace Adelaide Augusta Treadway (1839–1906). Her father was an early pioneer of Nevada.

Throughout her life, Maxwell embarked on travels, exploring various regions across Asia, Italy, France, the Balkans, remote areas of Mexico, and even venturing on muleback in Dalmatia. During one of her journeys, she met and married Captain William Lindsey Maxwell (1870–1928) of the United States Navy on August 25, 1988, in San Francisco, California. Her husband served on the Carmel-by-the-Sea board of trustees in 1922 and was a city mayor in 1922.

Maxwell's exploration of new territories continued throughout her life. Each new destination provided her with subjects to capture on her canvases. She studied with Cainni Studio in Italy, and with Max Banka, European artist while abroad. When Captain Maxwell died in 1929, Laura moved to Carmel Valley.

Career


Prior to encountering Sydney J. Yard, Maxwell had acquired her artistic skills through self-teaching.

In 1906, shortly before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Yard's decision to move his studio to the art colony in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California influenced Maxwell to follow suit. Recognizing the potential and artistic allure of Carmel, she made the decision to relocate and establish her own "Laura W. Maxwell" studio at Santa Lucia and Camino Real. This move marked the beginning of Maxwell's artistic journey in Carmel.

She enrolled in the DeWitt Clinton Peters-Milton Bancroft School in New York and also attended the Boston School of Design, broadening her knowledge and honing her skills. Additionally, she embarked on summer excursions, sketching various locations across the United States and Europe. Maxwell's artistic pursuits led her to spend four years studying at the Académie Julian in Paris, France. Notably, she found herself in the company of other talented artists from the Monterey Peninsula, such as Francis McComas and Charles Rollo Peters, who were also students at the academy.

Maxwell actively participated alongside the artists of Monterey and Carmel, showcasing her artwork at the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club. The club, which was situated in the location of the present-day Golden Bough Playhouse, provided a platform for artists to exhibit their work. Maxwell, alongside Arthur Honywood Vachell, Mary DeNeale Morgan, and William Frederic Ritschel, not only acted but also contributed their artistic skills to paint the scenery for the club's production of Josephine Preston Peabody's "The Piper" at the Forest Theater on July 4-5th, 1916.

Maxwell played a role in the establishment of the first Carmel Art Association becoming one of its first members. She worked on fund-raising campaigns to purchase the site for its permanent home. She donated paintings to aid in canceling the mortgage associated with the gallery.

In August 1917, she exhibited her Carmel seashore paintings at the Hotel Clark in Los Angeles, California. The same paintings were presented at the Healy Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri in December 1917. On October 27, 1918, Maxwell held an exhibition at the Rabjohn Galleries in San Francisco, showcasing a collection of 26 pictures inspired by the landscapes of Monterey County. Her subjects encompassed a wide range, including the Sand Dunes, Patio Gardens, Oaks, the Monterey Shore, Monterey Bay, Mount Tamalpais, the Carmel River, a series of Brown Hills, and the Carmel Mission.

In 1931, Maxwell undertook the design of a Cape Cod Revival-style residence located on the northeast corner of Camino Real and 12th Avenue for Louise P. Murphy. She joined the ranks of a select few women who ventured into the realm of architecture and construction, often without prior building experience.

In January 1941, Maxwell demonstrated "The Relation of Flowers and Flower Arrangement to Paintings" at the Salinas Woman's Club's Garden section on Lincoln Avenue. In March 1953, Maxwell had the honor of being a guest at the Santa Cruz Art League, where she delivered a talk on the utilization of watercolors as a medium in her artwork. Alongside her presentation, she showcased her watercolor flower studies. Maxwell's talent and skill were recognized, and her work received admiration in the state-wide exhibitions held at the Santa Cruz Art League.

Maxwell's artistic achievements included notable solo exhibitions at the Laky Gallery and the Carmel Art Association. Additionally, her works were displayed at venues such as the Santa Cruz Art League, the Legion of Honour, the De Young Museum, and Gomp's Gallery in San Francisco. Her art also gained international recognition, with exhibitions held in Paris and Peking. In 1947, Maxwell's skill in watercolor was acknowledged when she won the first prize for outstanding watercolor at the California State Fair. She secured the second place award for watercolor by the Society of Western Arts in 1949. She was listed among the esteemed artists in the Woman Artist of the American West.

Death
At the age of 90, Laura Maxwell died on August 7, 1967, at the Ford Ord Hospital in Marina, California. Following her death, a private family service was held in her honor, organized by Paul Mortuary.