Knee-length three-quarter right profile of a young woman with wavy auburn hair pulled back. Cleft in chin. Dark, high-necked, long-sleeved dress with two long rows of brown buttons. Holds a sheaf of paper (?) in her left hand.
Artwork Details
Medium
Oil on Canvas
Collection
Private Collection
Made/Created
Artist
George Dury, 1817-1894
Date made
1870 - 1876
General Notes
Note Type
Historical Note
Note
Margaret Becker was born on May 26, 1848, in Louisville, Kentucky to Margaret Kitzero. She she was educated at Presentation Academy, where she learned the fundamentals of music. Later she studied in New York City under Signor Alberto Lorenz, famous exponent of the Bel Canto opera. She was first married to G. H. Wessel, Jr., of Nashville. Following his death, she was married to Mr. Stewart, former manager of the Western Union Telegraph company here. Mr. Stewart was also a talented musician and with his wife, who possessed a fine coloratura soprano voice, collaborated to produce a number of notable oratories. Despite her age, Mrs. Stewart retained her voice and sang an aria from “Hernani,” playing her own accompaniment about three years ago. Mrs. Stewart was one of Nashville’s foremost music teachers. She taught at St. Cecilia Academy for a number of years and many of her pupils have achieved national reputation. She was recognized as a patron of music here and served as an inspiration to many of the city’s younger musicians. Mrs. Stewart also was considered an outstanding organist and choir director. She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis. She had three children Henrietta Wessel, Margaret Wessel Eidell, and John F. Wessel. SHe died in 1933 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Nashville.
