painter and panorama exhibitor, lived at Launceston, Tasmania, where, according to the Launceston Examiner of 14 December 1865, she was known for painting 'tasteful banners for most of the friendly associations’. From December 1865 to January 1866 Mrs Simpson exhibited her moving diorama of The Overland Route (from Australia to Britain – the opposite to the usual presentation) at the Mechanics Institute. It consisted of twenty-five scenes, each approximately 9 ft 4 in x 6 ft 3 in (284.5 cm x 190 cm) on 1,600 square feet of canvas, i.e. about 250 feet (76 m) long. The first scene depicted the departure from Sydney, the last the arrival at Southampton. As well as painting and presenting the diorama, Mrs Simpson, wearing 'rich appropriate dresses’, also sang during the performance. This is the only Australian diorama Dr Colligan knows that was painted by a woman (p.70).
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- Writers:
- Staff Writer
- Date written:
- 1992
- Last updated:
- 2011
