(1899-1988)

Violette de Mazia's passport photo, April 10, 1924.

Born in Paris in 1899, Violette de Mazia studied art in the studio of Robert Christie at Hampstead Conservatory, the Camden School of Art, and London Polytechnic School in England. When she moved to the United States in the 1920s, she continued her studies by enrolling in philosophy and art appreciation classes taught by Dr. Thomas Munro at the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania.

Soon after those initial classes, Dr. Albert C. Barnes offered de Mazia a teaching position. At the Foundation, de Mazia taught, wrote, met with artists, and traveled to Europe for study, museum visits, and to assist with art purchases. She worked closely with Barnes and his colleagues, including Columbia University Professor John Dewey, philosopher George Santayana, art dealer Paul Guillaume, and the painters William Glackens and Alfred Henry Maurer.

Over the years, de Mazia became the driving force behind the art education program, developing an original program of study that, based on awards and honors she received, was considered a significant approach to the understanding of art. Named Director of Education in 1950, de Mazia was appointed trustee and Director of Education for life after Barnes’s death in 1951.

In addition to teaching, de Mazia co-authored four books and wrote a number of essays. Among the many public accolades, de Mazia received honorary degrees from St. Joseph’s University, La Salle University, Moore College of Art and Design, and Lincoln University.

When she died in 1988, de Mazia’s personal art collection was auctioned and the proceeds created what is now known as The Violette de Mazia Foundation, a charitable and educational organization that promotes the understanding and appreciation of art. The Foundation develops and underwrites programs, projects, and activities that are consistent with its mission: to advance, teach, study, promote and otherwise support the aesthetics and appreciation of art based on the theories, methods, and approaches of Albert C. Barnes.