“Easier to paint man than woman”

December 29

While painting an oil portrait of University of Vermont President Guy W. Bailey, Greta Kempton remarked out loud that, generally, men are easier to paint than women, as women are much more likely to wear a pose than a man might, and as a result it is easier to capture the true picture of a male for the canvas.

Free Press & Times 12/29

Burlington, VT

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Milady is more inclined to pose, says Martha Kempton Who is doing a portrait of President Bailey Here.

Men are easier to paint than women, Martha Greta Kempton, New York Artist, said yesterday while in Burlington doing a portrait in oils of President Guy W. Bailey of the University of Vermont. Men are not so likely to wear a pose as women, she explained, adding that it is a much simpler task to catch the true picture of the male for the canvas.

Arrangements for the portrait were made by the representatives of the Alumni Council of the University. The artist expects to complete the face during her stay in Burlington this week, the finishing touches to be made in her New York studio. The sittings are taking place in the Fleming Museum.

Mrs. Kempton, who specializes in oils and pastels, was born in Austria. While the brush and canvas have expressed her particular talent throughout her life, it is only in the last few years that she has taken up painting professionally.

Among her portraits are those of Baroness Galuppi of New York, Mrs. Percy Chubb of East Orange, N.J., Hal Roach family members, Arthur Stebbins of California, Baroness Schwartzer of New York, members of the Loew’s family of the movie theater chain, Mr. Mildred Bedell Barber of New York, and many others.”