Nena de Brennecke

Nena de Brennecke (born 1883) was an Argentinean sculptor and mural painter known for her WPA commissions for post offices.

Early life and education

Born in Argentina, she studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College in London. She studied with Henri Matisse in France.[1] She married Dr. Ernest de Brennecke in London, they moved to Poughkeepsie, NY, where they divorced seven year later.

Career

De Brennecke worked extensively on the Board of Directors Room at the Colorado Business Bank located in downtown Denver. She created bronze entrance doors decorated with Native American dancers, designed elevator doors, and created a sculpture. She created facade sculpture of the Motor Bus Terminal in Denver now demolished. She did exterior terracotta and bronze reliefts for the Railway Savings Bank in Pueblo, Colorado. De Brennecke was a founding member of the Denver Artists Guild in 1928.

In the 1930s de Brennecke relocated to Brooklyn, where the WPA commissioned her to do decorate post offices with carved wood reliefs.

Post office work

Dewberries, Drilling and Peaches, Hamlet North Carolina Post Office

De Brennecke did three mahogany carvings entitled Dewberries, Drilling and Peaches at the Hamlet post office. She was $750 for her work.[4] The works focus on Hamlet's role as an agricultural trade point, and depict important trade goods and processes. The murals depict only men conducting the picking and drilling, despite the fact that women often did much of this work. De Brennecke was working within the conventions of manliness proscribed by the WPA.[4]

Exhibitions

Collections
  • Brooklyn Museum, NY
  • Smithsonian American Art Museum
  • Denver Public Library West Art Collection

References
  1. Stan, Cuba. The Denver Artists Guild : its founding members : an illustrated history. Denver, CO. ISBN 9780942576580. OCLC 918968336.
  2. Bauder, Bob (January 31, 2009). "Impact of 1930s Works Progress Administration still seen in Beaver County". Beaver County Times.
  3. Hohenberger, Dennis (Dec 7, 2017). "Tour Highlights Unique Spots In Community". Hartford Courant.
  4. Price, Davis Anita (2009). New Deal art in North Carolina : the murals, sculptures, reliefs, paintings, oils and frescoes and their creators. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. ISBN 9780786437795. OCLC 262737520.
  5. Society, The Renaissance. "Nena de Brennecke | The Renaissance Society". www.renaissancesociety.org. Retrieved 2018-03-31.
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