The Artist's Early Life

Mary Cassatt, born on May 22, 1844 in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, grew up as one of seven children. Neither her father, Robert Simpson Cassat or her mother, Katherine Kelso, Johnston were involved in the  arts but part of the financial business. Mary traveled often and was exposed to art at an early age. Spending five years in Europe and exploring the cities she was inspired by the visual arts. Returning to America she began studying painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at age fifteen. Her parents disapproved of her choice to become a professional artist, for at the time it was assumed that a women should take the family role. Realizing the teachings at the academy were limiting toward female students and determined to have a career in painting Mary decided she would have to study with "the old masters on her own (Marycassatt.org) ."