Sopha Orene Bacon Bennett   (1864-1950)

Sopha, also known as Sophie, Bennett was born in Niles, Michigan, but lived most of her life in Grand Rapids and often spent summers in Grand Haven along Lake Michigan.  She was extremely versatile; she worked in both watercolor and oil as well as doing china painting and tapestry.  Sopha Bennett was a student of Mathias Alten who was “excited about her,” even though he was reluctant to promote her because she had not had any formal art training at an art school.  It was not unusual for Bennett to present her paintings as gifts to friends and relatives.

Sources:
Excerpted from the exhibition catalog: Early Michigan Paintings, Michigan State University, 1976
Compiled and submitted by Edward Bentley, researcher of Lansing, Michigan