Emmeline Emily Parker b. 1808

Also known as Lady Parker, Emmeline Emily Macarthur
  • Artist (Draughtsman)
Emmeline Emily Parker was a sketcher and poet. She married Henry Watson Parker who was Premier of New South Wales from 1856-57. Her mother opposed to her decision to marry Henry as she considered him 'bad-tempered, penurious, and narrow-minded'. Parker's album, no longer holds any of her drawings but some of the remaining captions suggest she may have had drawing lessons from Conrad Martens.
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sketcher and poet, was born at Elizabeth Farm, Parramatta, New South Wales, youngest of the four daughters of John and Elizabeth Macarthur and sister of William . A cousin, Emmeline Macarthur , was named after her. The elder Emmeline married Henry Watson Parker, Governor Gipps’s private secretary, at Sydney on 21 November 1843 despite her widowed mother’s opposition, Elizabeth stating that she considered Henry 'bad-tempered, penurious, and narrow-minded’ and 'his future prospects equivocal, depending on the will of his father’. The Parkers built a large house, Clovelly, at Watson’s Bay and Henry briefly became premier of New South Wales (1856-57) and was knighted in 1858. He and Emmeline, Lady Parker, spent their retirement in England. Henry was worth just under £140 000 when he died in 1881.

Emmeline’s album (Mitchell Library) was begun in January 1834, well before her marriage, and she continued it for at least some time afterwards. It contained poems, notes and illustrations but all her drawings have long been removed and only some captions remain to indicate her subjects. These include Tintern Abbey , Spanish Girl , Fid èle , Good Night and Last Look . Accompanied by poems in imitation of Waller and Walter Scott, a sonnet, a copy of a poem by Bishop Heber, several poems chosen and copied in by Watson Parker (including extracts from Byron) and other contributions from friends, it is likely that the drawings would have been typical of any well-bred young lady’s collection. The album also includes Emmeline’s poem 'On Belgenny Camden 10 January 1834’ (to accompany her lost view of Belgenny) and 'Lines on the Taralga Stream’ sent to her by an unknown author in April 1835. A view of Taralga by Conrad Martens , also removed, suggests that he may have given Emmeline drawing lessons. Martens certainly taught her niece Elizabeth Macarthur , but his work was commonly included in albums at the time. Emmeline’s paintbox from Ackermann’s, London, with her Christian name engraved on a plaque on the top, survives in the family.

Emmeline and Henry Parker had one daughter who died at birth. Emmeline herself died at the Parkers’ home, Stawell House, Richmond, Surrey, on 3 May 1888.

Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1992
Last updated:
2011

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