Elisabetta Keller

Elisabetta Keller, also known as Elisabeth Keller, (6 July 1891 – 19 February 1969)[1] was a Swiss artist born in Italy and a founder of the Italian Soroptimist Club.[2]

Elisabetta Keller
Self Portrait
Born	July 6, 1891 Monza, Italy
Died	February 19, 1969 (aged 77) San Francisco, California, US
Nationality	Swiss, Italian
Known for	Portraits, pastels
Movement	Lombardi naturalism, modernism
Spouse(s)	Giovanni Battista Pitscheider

Keller worked in many media, but preferred pastels. Though she created landscapes and still life, she was noted for her portraits, which were often of the upper-class and bourgeoisie of Milan. Among her subjects were her close friend, the poet Delio Tessa, and Pope Pius XI, a long-time family friend.[3][4]

The Soroptimist Club of Milan, the first Soroptimist club in Italy, was organized during a series of meetings held at Keller's residence in 1928. Besides Keller, the first 25 members included the composer Giulia Recli and the writer Ada Negri.[2] In 1931, Elisabeth Keller became the second president of the organization.[2]

References

1. "Family Tree". Archivio Elisabetta Keller. Associazione Culturale per la tutela, lo studio, valorizzazione e diffusione dell’Archivio e dell’Opera di Pompeo Mariani e di Elisabetta Keller. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
2. Isastia, Anna Maria. "La Nascita del Soroptimist dagli Stati Uniti all'Europa – Il club di Milano" [The Birth of the Soroptimist from the United States to Europe - The Milan Club] (in Italian). Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
3. "Artistic Works". Archivio Elisabetta Keller. Associazione Culturale per la tutela, lo studio, valorizzazione e diffusione dell’Archivio e dell’Opera di Pompeo Mariani e di Elisabetta Keller. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
4. Muscardini, Giuseppe (15 February 2018). "Le frequentazioni svizzere di Delio Tessa" [Delio Tessa’s Swiss Acquaintances]. Go Italy (in Italian). Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.