painter and draughtswoman, was born in Sydney on 17 November 1831, the only surviving child of James Ironside, a commission agent from Scotland, and Martha Rebecca, née Redman.
She was the first Australian born artist to travel to Europe, and William Moore credits her as being “the first woman in this country who, gifted with a rare imagination, was able to express her ideals in art.”
She was throughout her life supported by her mother, Martha Ironside, who encouraged her career at every step and who remained her closest companion.
As was common with girls of her generation she was educated at home, well taught by her mother, at Crow’s Nest, North Sydney. She tentatively entered public life when she contributed pro-republican verses to various magazines.
On 20 June 1855 she presented a banner she had designed to the Volunteer Forces of New South Wales as “a memorial of her devoted attachment to the land of her nativity”. The Ironsides were a Presbyterian family and she was baptised at Scots Church Sydney by the radical preacher, Dr John Dunmore Lang. Other friends included Charles Nicholson, and Daniel Henry Deniehy. The latter realised that as it was not possible for her to be properly educated in art in Australia, she had to go to Europe.
- Writers:
- Staff Writer
Note: additional information
- Date written:
- 1995
- Last updated:
- 2013
