(Click to Enlarge)
Oil on Board
8x 10 inches
Good condition
Signed Virginia Carten lower right
Boston Common scene
Central MA origin
Virginia was born in Beverly MA in 1903 to John L Carten and Rena B Hall. She can be found living with her parents and her brother in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 Federal Census. She died in 1986.
VIrginia attended the Massachusetts Normal Art Schoolin 1924 and became an artist. She went to work for R. H. White Store in Boston and on one record Virginia is listed as an artist while employed at the store.
A Boston newspaper covered the enlistment of four of R H White employees on 14 January 1943. She served as a photographer for the Army during WWII.
There are numerous records of her life after she left military service during WWII. She had gone back to MA to live and lived there throughout her life. Virginia is found in many city directories for towns around Boston. She is listed as an artist and photographer in the town directories.
Virginia was an accomplished artist who traveled to different countries for inspiration. She bequeathed a sizable financial gift to the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead MA. The money was used during a rennovation of the Library 1989-1990 to create a new gallery, The Virginia A Carten Gallery.
Source: Peabody Historical Library and Museum.