Charlotte's
Web cont.
Sculptor Emma Stebbins (1815-1882) left New York for
Rome in 1857 and immediately fell in with a talented young
artist, Harriet Hosmer, who had first come to Rome with Charlotte
Cushman five years earlier. According to her most recent biographer,
Cushman's tumultuous decade-long relationship with British
writer and translator Matilda Hays suffered its final blow
when Cushman became enamored with Stebbins.
Once Cushman and Stebbins became involved, Cushman's loyalty
to her partner led her to promote Stebbins's career over that
of Hosmer, her former protegee. Stebbins eventually followed
Cushman back to the United States, where they set up households
in Newport and Boston.
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Throughout
the years, Cushman's maid and companion
was Sallie
Mercer, pictured above.
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