Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Rare Sculpture by Pioneering Female Artist Found in English Garden

A marble bust, believed to be the debut work of Harriet Goodhue Hosmer, America's first professional female sculptor, was discovered in an English garden where it had been overlooked for over 70 years.

The sculpture, depicting the nymph Daphne and covered in lichen, was identified during a property valuation. It is now cleaned and valued at up to $24,300.

Hosmer, a pioneer for gender equality and a queer icon, spent time in Rome, working among other female expatriate sculptors known as the "white marmorean flock."

Despite societal barriers for women pursuing careers, Hosmer studied anatomy and gained acclaim for her skill. Her works often featured heroines defying patriarchal expectations.

Her 1854 sculpture of Daphne shares similarities with her first commissioned work, Oenone.

Hosmer's masterpiece, "Zenobia in Chains" (1859), depicted a defiant queen and faced disbelief from male critics who questioned its creation by a woman.

Hosmer was also known for her long-term relationships with women during a time when queerness was largely disapproved of.

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