Violet Oakley (1874–1961) was the first American artist to create commissioned wall paintings. By the end of the 19th century, only men had the opportunity to engage in such art. However, already in the early years of the 20th century, Violet Oakley appeared in the public eye with her neo-Renaissance frescoes and stained glass windows, themes for which she drew from history and literature. Oakley was born into a family of artists, studied in New York, spent several years in England and France, where she continued her studies. Returning to the United States in 1896, she began collaborating with magazines, creating illustrations that show her love of Victorian art and the Pre-Raphaelites.
Among Oakley's early work, a series of murals in the Pennsylvania State Capitol was extremely important. After completing the first composition, installed in the Governor's reception room, she received an order to decorate other parts of the Capitol (in the Senate and the Chamber of the Supreme Court). On one of the friezes, known as Penn's Vision, the artist portrayed William Penn, the founder of the English colony of Pennsylvania. Oakley carefully studied the views of the preacher, who led like-minded Quakers into the New World.
The works in the Capitol impressed the banker Charlton Yarnall (Charlton Yarnall), and he invited Oakley to his mansion, where the artist created three panels: The Child and Tradition, Youth and the Arts and "Man and Science" (Man and Science). The first picture depicts a boy surrounded by sages of antiquity, including Confucius, Solomon, Cicero. On the second, musicians gathered around the young man. On the third panel, a man and his family are depicted against the backdrop of Florence.
During her life, Violet Oakley created more than 40 murals in the Capitol building in Pennsylvania alone. In addition to such large-scale works, the artist painted portraits, published a collection of miniatures and notes. Over the years, interest in Oakley's work has not weakened: in 2017-2018. a major exhibition of works was held, followed by the systematization and digitization of the artist's works.
