Emma Stebbins, American Sculptor

Emma Stebbins (1815–1882) was an American sculptor and the first woman to receive a public art commission from New York City. She was best known for her work Angel of the Waters (1873), also known as Bethesda Fountain, located on the Bethesda Terrace in Central Park, New York. Angel of the Waters has been featured in many New York movies, such as Home Alone 2, Elf, and Enchanted.

In May 1856, Stebbins, her younger sister Caroline, and their mother traveled to Rome, where Emma and Caroline settled. While Caroline married John Rollin Tilton, an American painter, in 1858, Emma was welcomed into a society of expatriates by Harriet Hosmer, also an American sculptor.

One of the leading ladies of the expatriates in Rome was Charlotte Cushman, an American actress. Upon meeting Stebbins, Cushman took a special interest in both her work and in her affections. The pair quickly became a couple and within a year of meeting, the women exchanged unofficial vows and considered themselves married. In June 2019, The New York Times wrote an obituary for Stebbins as part of their Overlooked series. Stebbins’ obituary was added as a member of the LGBTQ community. From the Smithsonian Libraries Image Gallery.