painter and art collector, was the eldest daughter of William Ravenscroft of County Antrim, Ireland, and his second wife, a sister of the anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce. She married in 1821 and came to Melbourne from England in 1855 in the Oliver Lang with her husband, Sir George, and their son James Wilberforce Stephen. Both husband and son were admitted to the Victorian Bar on their arrival. Sir George, who had been awarded his baronetcy for his work in the anti-slavery movement, became a leading figure in many of Melbourne’s sporting, philanthropic and religious circles.
The Stephens had several colonial connections, including Sir James and Sir Alfred Stephen – and George Milner Stephen , the black sheep of the family. Sir George appears to have owned an extensive art collection, reputedly including works by Dérer, Varley and Linnell. He lent these and five oils, one watercolour and two drawings by Lady Stephen to the 1869 Melbourne Public Library Exhibition. Four of her oil paintings of English subjects were after John Glover , while her Scottish watercolour view was after Varley. The two drawings were Feed my Sheep and Christ Giving the Key to Peter , the latter after Raphael. Lady Stephen died that same year and it is not known if she painted any Australian subjects.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
