May Slessinger

May Slessinger (May 4, 1872 – October 25, 1954) was an American artist specializing in miniatures, based in San Francisco, California.

May Slessinger
May Slessinger, from a 1910 publication.
Born
Mary Slessinger

May 4, 1872
San Francisco, California
DiedOctober 25, 1954 (aged 82)
San Francisco, California
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMae Slessinger, May Slessinger Bachman (after 1922)
OccupationArtist

Early life

May Slessinger was born on May 4, 1872 in San Francisco, California, the daughter of Lewis (or Louis) Slessinger and Caroline Price Slessinger. Her Bavarian-born father, a shoemaker by training, was an American Civil War veteran, and one of the city's first businessmen.[1] The Slessinger family was Jewish.[2]

Career

Slessinger was a painter who specialized in painting miniature portraits.[3] She was a member of the San Francisco Art Association.[4] Of her work at one of the Association's shows in 1903, one report commented that "Miss May Slessinger's work is of a high order of merit, for it shows the fire of the true artist and the technique of a careful worker. One of her miniatures is the size of a dime and every detail of the subject is carefully wrought."[5]

Slessinger made miniature portraits of several prominent San Francisco citizens, including artist William Keith, businesswoman Mary Ann Magnin and her son Grover Magnin, and Elizabeth Meyerfeld Roos, the daughter of theatrical entrepreneur Morris Meyerfeld Jr.[6][7][8] In 1920, Queen Marie of Romania named Slessinger her court miniaturist, in appreciation of Slessinger's portrait of the queen; dancer Loie Fuller, working with the Red Cross in Rumania during World War I, suggested Slessinger for the portrait commission.[9]

Personal life

Slessinger married oil executive David S. Bachman in 1922, on his deathbed[10] and inherited half his fortune.[11] She lived for many years at the Fairmont Hotel and died on October 25, 1954 in San Francisco. She was 82.[12] Slessinger left a large estate to benefit her relatives and research at the Mount Zion Hospital.[13]

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References
  1. "Lewis Slessinger, City Pioneer, Dies". San Francisco Chronicle. August 10, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Society Show for Charity". The San Francisco Call. January 28, 1900. p. 26. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  3. "A Talented Miniaturist". Town Talk. 19: 18. September 10, 1910.
  4. "Pictures Placed for Public View". The San Francisco Call. November 18, 1904. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  5. "Weather Dampens Ardor of Picture Loving Public". The San Francisco Call. November 21, 1903. p. 16. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  6. "Miniatures by Miss Slessinger Are Attracting Much Attention". The San Francisco Chronicle. December 8, 1912. p. 27. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Miniature of Keith Excites Admiration". The San Francisco Chronicle. July 3, 1910. p. 60. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Untitled society page item". The San Francisco Call. January 20, 1907. p. 22. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "S. F. Girl Paints Rumania's Queen and is Appointed Court Miniaturist". The San Francisco Examiner. March 25, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "San Francisco Millionaire Dies". Healdsburg Tribune. December 5, 1922. p. 2. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  11. "Death Bed Bride Inherits Huge Sum". Morning Press. December 17, 1922. p. 5. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  12. "Mrs. Bachman Rites Held". The San Francisco Examiner. October 28, 1954. p. 8. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "$767,738 Left in Mrs. Bachman's Estate". The San Francisco Examiner. September 29, 1955. p. 13. Retrieved May 2, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
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