Elizabeth Dolan
Elizabeth Dolan stands as one of the most notable female artists in Nebraska history. Her work is prominently featured throughout the Lincoln area, with pieces displayed in the Nebraska Capitol, Morrill Hall, the Sheldon Art Gallery, the Lux Center, the Masonic Temple, and the University of Nebraska Union.
Dolan’s family moved from Iowa to Lincoln shortly after her birth. In 1891, she enrolled at the University of Nebraska to study Fine Arts but attended for just one year. In 1894, she furthered her studies with Sarah Hayden, another key Nebraska artist, before a significant gap in her documented history. In 1912, Dolan resumed her formal training at the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 1914.
Following her time in Chicago, she spent three years in New York at the Art Students League, where she earned an opportunity to study at the Académie Julian in Paris. This led to a scholarship at the Conservatoire Americain Fontainebleau near Paris. Under the guidance of fresco master Francis Garguit, Dolan’s talent quickly gained recognition, although her reclusive nature meant she never allowed others to watch her work. Graduating from Fontainebleau in 1925, she left a legacy there with two permanent frescoes.
In 1926, while visiting Nebraska, Dolan learned of the University of Nebraska’s plans for a new natural history museum. She proposed creating interior frescoes to E.H. Barbour, the museum director, and was awarded the commission, earning the title of “decorator.” The frescoes gained national acclaim and were featured in American Magazine of Art. Reflecting on the project, Dolan credited Barbour with giving her “my first big chance.” She was 51 when she completed this work.
In 1930, Dolan volunteered to create The Spirit of Nebraska fresco for the Law Library in the Capitol, charging only $110 for materials and $200 for living expenses during the two-month project. This work remains her most recognized creation.
Dolan also secured major commissions, including The Age of Man for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. She continued to work from a modest studio in downtown Lincoln until her death in 1948 at age 73.
