Emma Mendenhall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1873. She studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati with Nowottny and Franks Duveneck and at the Julian Academy in Paris. She also received instruction from Rhoda Holmes Nicholls, Charles Woodbury and Henry Snell.

She was a member of the Cincinnati Woman's Art Club, American Water Color Society, Cincinnati MacDowell Club, New York Water Color Club and the Washington, DC Water Color Club.

Mendenhall painted in oil, watercolor and pastel. In addition to portraits she was known for her landscapes. She had traveled extensively and painted in France, Spain and Mexico. She spent some time painting in New Mexico about 1920 and exhibited, in Santa Fe, a number of local scenes.

She exhibited actively from 1898 at the Cincinnati Museum Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Philadelphia Water Color Club and the Washington Water Color Club. She also exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Arts Club, with the Boston Water Color Club, the Ohio Water Color Society and at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, Ohio.

Biography courtesy of Roughton Galleries, www.antiquesandfineart.com/roughton