The early years in Cincinnati and Covington

Born on February 28, 1868, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Dixie Selden spent her earliest years across the river in Covington, Kentucky. She lived there with her parents, John and Martha Selden, until their deaths in 1909. Her formal training began at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, then known as the McMicken School of Design, where she enrolled in 1884. The halls of the academy brought her into contact with instructors such as Vincent Nowottny, Henrietta Wilson, and L.H. Meakin.

The influence of Frank Duveneck left a deep mark on her early practice. She attended his classes in 1890, 1891, and 1903, eventually becoming one of his favorite students. This period of intense private study led her to adopt the Munich style. Her connection to him was personal enough that she painted his portrait before he passed away.

A shift in palette and subject

By 1894, at the age of twenty-six, Selden began advertising herself as a professional portrait painter. She established a commercial business by painting the members of Cincinnati’s elite society. During these early years, her work often focused on domestic scenes, flowers, and portraits. However, she used her summer and fall months to travel and capture landscapes.

A significant change occurred around 1913 after she studied with William Merritt Chase in Venice, Italy. This experience prompted her to move away from the Munich style toward a more colorful Impressionist palette and technique. In 1914, she continued her studies under Henry B. Snell at St. Ives, England. Her later works often captured the daily life of the places she visited, including:

• Village street scenes and harbors
• Portraits of local citizens in festival costume
• Landscapes from travels through Europe, such as Brittany, Spain, and Scandinavia
• Scenes from China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada
• Views from the Middle East and northern Africa, including Egypt

Professional life and legacy

Selden’s output varied in scale, ranging from small thumb-nail oil sketches to larger works measuring 20 by 30 inches. Some of her smaller pieces were completed in just two days. Her work was frequently shown at institutions such as the National Academy of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She also exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Beyond her individual studio practice, she held leadership roles within the local art community. She served as President of the Cincinnati Woman's Art Club and was an active member of the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors. Today, her paintings can be found in the collections of the Cincinnati Art Museum and the University of Cincinnati.