Mechanics Hall Portraits: Lucy Stone

Lucy Stone (1818-1893) became one of the leading reformers and advocates of women's rights, winning fame especially for persuasive and moving oratory. Born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, of a family long established in New England, her quest for education led her to Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary where she graduated with honors and became the first Massachusetts woman to be awarded a college degree. Stone later entered Oberlin College, Ohio, noted for the introduction of coeducation. She was much influenced by the anti-slavery writings and ideas of William Lloyd Garrison. She spoke at the first National Woman's Rights Convention, which was held in Worcester in 1850. Lucy Stone established the Woman's Journal and was co-founder of the American Women's Suffrage Association.

About the Artist: Lucy Stone is portrayed by Numael Pulido. In 1958 Numael Pulido came to the United States from his native Colombia, South America, to study painting at the Art Students League of New York. Having pursued a successful painting career in New York, he moved to Hancock, New Hampshire in the 1970's to regain a measure of freedom of execution and experimentation with technique that he felt was curbed by the New York gallery world. In the mid-1980's he moved to England to resume his painting career - showing at the Royal Academy of Portrait Painters in London - and finally returned to the United States in 1989. He has portraits at Exeter Academy, Brigham and Women' Hospital, and at the American Antiquarian Society. Mr. Pulido paints and teaches in his home in Hancock, New Hampshire, specializing in the techniques of the Masters of the 19th century.