Clara Montalba
Encyclopedia
Clara Federica Montalba RWS (1842–1929) was a British artist, chiefly known for her watercolour paintings of Venice. She was the eldest of four daughters of the Swedish-born artist Anthony Rubens Montalba, all of whom achieved considerable artistic success, though Clara was arguably the most accomplished and best-known of the four. In 1892 she was admitted into the Royal Watercolour Society
. She died in Venice in 1929.
in 1842, the youngest of the four daughters of the Swedish-born artist Anthony Rubens Montalba
and Emeline (née Davies).
and later in Venice
, where her family moved, at the Accademia di Belle Arti, in the 1880's and 1890's.The 1871 British census shows Anthony Montalba living at 19 Arundel Gardens
, Notting Hill
, London
, with four daughters, all artists.
The Montalba sisters were regular contributors to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
during the 1870's. She attained international recognition following exhibitions in Europe and America. She specialized in watercolors, most notably scenes from her family's home in Venice, where she lived at the end of the 19th century. Her work was exhibited at the 1893 exposition of British Women Painters.
Clara was arguably the most accomplished and best-known of the four Montalba sisters, and in 1892 she was admitted into the Royal Watercolour Society
, styling herself RWS.
Between 1879 and 1889 she exhibited her work at the Grosvenor Gallery
, showing a series of scenes painted in Venice, which captured the unique mood and atmosphere of Venetian life.
, being named in 1886 by Millicent Garrett Fawcett as one of twenty successful and accomplished women who had given "warm help and support" to the movement.
, who was herself an accomplished artist. They spent time with the Princess in Canada, painting landscapes. Princess Louise married the Marquess of Lorne in 1878, who was soon chosen to be Canada's new Governor General
. Louise thus became his Viceregal Consort
and the couple arrived to be sworn in at Halifax
on 25 November. They left Canada on 27 October 1883.
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
. She died in Venice in 1929.
Early life
She was born in CheltenhamCheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
in 1842, the youngest of the four daughters of the Swedish-born artist Anthony Rubens Montalba
Anthony R. Montalba
Anthony Rubens Montalba was a Swedish-born, naturalised British painter and the head of a family of renowned artists that based itself in Venice in the later part of the nineteenth-century...
and Emeline (née Davies).
Career
She and her three sisters all attained high repute as artists. She studied in Paris under Eugene IsabeyEugène Isabey
Eugène Louis Gabriel Isabey was a French painter, draftsman, and printmaker.-Career:Born in Paris, the son of Jean-Baptiste Isabey, a painter as well, Eugène Isabey studied and worked at the Louvre Museum. Early in his career his paintings consisted of mostly watercolor landscapes...
and later in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, where her family moved, at the Accademia di Belle Arti, in the 1880's and 1890's.The 1871 British census shows Anthony Montalba living at 19 Arundel Gardens
Arundel Gardens
Arundel Gardens is a street in Notting Hill, London, located between Ladbroke Grove and Kensington Park Road. It was built in the 1860s, towards the later stages of the development of the Ladbroke Estate, until that time a largely rural area west of the expanding suburbs of London.-History:In 1852...
, Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with four daughters, all artists.
The Montalba sisters were regular contributors to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Royal Academy summer exhibition
The Summer Exhibition is an open art exhibition held annually by the Royal Academy in Burlington House, Piccadilly in central London, England, during the summer months of June, July, and August...
during the 1870's. She attained international recognition following exhibitions in Europe and America. She specialized in watercolors, most notably scenes from her family's home in Venice, where she lived at the end of the 19th century. Her work was exhibited at the 1893 exposition of British Women Painters.
Clara was arguably the most accomplished and best-known of the four Montalba sisters, and in 1892 she was admitted into the Royal Watercolour Society
Royal Watercolour Society
The Royal Watercolour Society is an English institution of painters working in watercolours...
, styling herself RWS.
Between 1879 and 1889 she exhibited her work at the Grosvenor Gallery
Grosvenor Gallery
The Grosvenor Gallery was an art gallery in London founded in 1877 by Sir Coutts Lindsay and his wife Blanche. Its first directors were J. Comyns Carr and Charles Hallé...
, showing a series of scenes painted in Venice, which captured the unique mood and atmosphere of Venetian life.
Feminism
Clara appears to have been an early champion of women's rightsWomen's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, being named in 1886 by Millicent Garrett Fawcett as one of twenty successful and accomplished women who had given "warm help and support" to the movement.
Royal favour
Both Clara and her sister Henrietta were friends with the Princess Louise, Duchess of ArgyllPrincess Louise, Duchess of Argyll
The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the...
, who was herself an accomplished artist. They spent time with the Princess in Canada, painting landscapes. Princess Louise married the Marquess of Lorne in 1878, who was soon chosen to be Canada's new Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
. Louise thus became his Viceregal Consort
Viceregal consort of Canada
The viceregal consort of Canada is the spouse of the serving governor general of Canada, assisting the viceroy with ceremonial and charitable work, accompanying him or her to official state occasions, and occasionally undertaking philanthropic work of their own...
and the couple arrived to be sworn in at Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
on 25 November. They left Canada on 27 October 1883.
External links
- Biography of the Montalba sisters Retrieved August 2011