KUSSNER, Amalia - Putnam

Lorenz Kussner who had come from Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany and his wife, Emmaline Weinhardt, who had migrated with her family from Weisbaden, Germany were married in Crawfordsville. There their two daughters, Louise & Amalia were born. After they moved to Terre Haute, a son Albert was born (not what his obit says – says b Greencastle). Mr. Kussner established a store, “PALACE OF MUSIC,” in the present Memorial Hall building where he made and sold musical instruments. The family lived in an apartment on the 2nd floor. Enrolling at St. M-of-the-woods Academy age 6 Amalia was the youngest student ever to attend the school.  There her interest in art was stimulated by Sister Maurice and rec’d the fine training led to her success. 80 years ago grad from Wiley HS and both before/after her grad studied at the academy & under private tutors. One year was spent in NY at Mme deSilva’s and Mrs. Bradford’s fashionable boarding school. Many local friends of the family have pieces of china on which Amalia painted when a little girl.  She paitned on everything she could find, including the tiles of the fireplaces in the homes of her parents and her uncles and aunts, Dr. and Mrs. allen Pence and Mr. and Mrs. John Weinhardt and on ivory keys from old pianos in her fath’ers store. She became interested in painting in little from a miniature give her as a child. She paitned miniatures of her family and friends and was commissioned to paint some of Donald and Hamill Baker, sons of Attorney and Mrs. Harry Baker and of Marian & Fred Reynolds, children of Attorney & Mrs. Reynolds and others. When Albert went Est to enter Philips Exeter Academy, Amalia went along to NY. There she looked up a friend, Alice Fischer who had made a success on Broadway & organized the 1wth Night Club for actresses. Alice gave her an intro which led her to get ajob as staff artist at TIffanys. Then when Amalia opened her own studio, Alice helped her get commissions to paint Lillian Russell, America’s prima donna and Marie Tempest, English opera Star.  Alice also gave her an intro to Mrs. Theodore Havemeyer, leader of NY’s original “400” society ladies which led to a commission rom several others. Twice her portraits hit the women’s portrait exhibition at National Academy of Design. Her fame spread to Chicago where her family moved and there she painted 16 miniatures of the Armour family… friendship with Mrs. Arthur Paget w/o South African millionaire and member of the court circles of London caused her to go to London in 1896. There painted Mme. Melba the prima donna; Consuelo Duchess of Marlborough … led to exhibit work in National Gallery in London and eventually commission to paint Prince of Wales later King Edward VII.  Besides paying her a large sum, Prince gave her a diamond and emerald necklace (later gave gems to England for war relief work.  Raised her price to $1,000 and eventually got $4,000 for one miniature. Not only was she then accepted socially in London’s court circles, but NY’s 400 began to recognize her.  Through Mrs. Paget Amalia sent to St. Petersburg, Russia in March 1899.  There she painted Grand Duchess Marie Vladimir and was summoned to Winter Palace to make minautres of both Czar and Czarina of Russia.  Payment and gifts of bracelet, necklace, ring and diamons/rubies. Went on own to Captetown So. Afri to paint Cecil Rhodes.  Boer War came out by ox team and horseback and returned to this country. Marr to Capt. Charles Dupont scion of a wealthy French-American family took place July 4, 1900 in sacristry of St. Patrick’s Cath NY. Then had all the fame, wealth and social position she ever desired and fad of having ones portrait painted in miniature on ivory was waning. So she did then only what she felt would add to her reputation or people who inspired her. She & hubs traveled on Riviera, England and Egypt, spent a year in an old castle in Germany. Finally settled at Windlesham Hall in Surrey, England spending Summers at Dachstein in the Austrian Tyrol. Died May 1932 of Lung Ailment in Switzerland. Hubs is still living there. Amalia’s parents both died at her home. Her sister, Louise who gained recognition for her beautiful voice was married to John Wells Cloud, an American. Louise is now 95 and living at Magnolia House, Sunningdale, Berks (England?) Both couples became English subjects Albert, her brother married Mary Pettit of Wabash and gained fame as a pianist and composter. He died two years before Amalia at his home in St. Pete Fla and is buried in Highland Lawn Cemetery here.