Emily Mary Osborn
Encyclopedia
Emily Mary Osborn or Osborne, was an English painter of the Victorian era
.
She was born in Essex
, the eldest of nine children of a clergyman. She was educated at Dickinson's Academy in London. In 1851, at the age of seventeen, Osborn began showing her work in the annual Royal Academy
exhibits, and continued to do so over a span of four decades (to 1893). She was best known for her pictures of children and her genre paintings, especially on themes of women in distress.
Her most famous single work is Nameless and Friendless (1857), which has been called "The most ingenious of all Victorian widow pictures." It depicts a recently bereaved woman attempting to make a living as an artist by offering a picture to a dealer, while two "swells" at the left ogle her. Osborn's The Governess was shown at the Royal Academy in 1860, and purchased by Queen Victoria
. Works of this type, which focused on the distresses of women in contemporary Victorian society, have earned Osborn the designation "proto-feminist artist."
In 1861 Osborn exhibited her The escape of Lord Nithsdale from the Tower, 1717 at the Royal Academy. This historical painting shows Nithisdale eluding custody by dressing as a woman. Osborn's interest in women and women artists is encapsulated in her 1884 picture Portrait of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, in which feminist artist Barbara Bodichon
was portrayed at her easel. Osborn executed a second portrait of Bodichon in 1888.
In 1914 Ellen Sickert (daughter of Richard Cobden
and first wife of Walter Sickert
), writing under the pseudonym "Miles Amber," published her novel Sylvia Saxton: Episodes of a Life. Sickert dedicated her novel to Osborn and her companion Mary Elizabeth Dunn.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
She was born in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, the eldest of nine children of a clergyman. She was educated at Dickinson's Academy in London. In 1851, at the age of seventeen, Osborn began showing her work in the annual Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
exhibits, and continued to do so over a span of four decades (to 1893). She was best known for her pictures of children and her genre paintings, especially on themes of women in distress.
Her most famous single work is Nameless and Friendless (1857), which has been called "The most ingenious of all Victorian widow pictures." It depicts a recently bereaved woman attempting to make a living as an artist by offering a picture to a dealer, while two "swells" at the left ogle her. Osborn's The Governess was shown at the Royal Academy in 1860, and purchased by Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. Works of this type, which focused on the distresses of women in contemporary Victorian society, have earned Osborn the designation "proto-feminist artist."
In 1861 Osborn exhibited her The escape of Lord Nithsdale from the Tower, 1717 at the Royal Academy. This historical painting shows Nithisdale eluding custody by dressing as a woman. Osborn's interest in women and women artists is encapsulated in her 1884 picture Portrait of Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, in which feminist artist Barbara Bodichon
Barbara Bodichon
Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon was an English educationalist, artist, and a leading early nineteenth century feminist and activist for women's rights.-Early life:...
was portrayed at her easel. Osborn executed a second portrait of Bodichon in 1888.
In 1914 Ellen Sickert (daughter of Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...
and first wife of Walter Sickert
Walter Sickert
Walter Richard Sickert , born in Munich, Germany, was a painter who was a member of the Camden Town Group in London. He was an important influence on distinctively British styles of avant-garde art in the 20th century....
), writing under the pseudonym "Miles Amber," published her novel Sylvia Saxton: Episodes of a Life. Sickert dedicated her novel to Osborn and her companion Mary Elizabeth Dunn.
External links
- E M Osborn online (ArtCyclopedia)
- Representative works
- E M Osborn (Victorian Web)
- A woman scorned - an essay on Osborn's painting, "The Governess" (TES Connect)