Eliza Turck
Encyclopedia
Eliza Turck was an English
portrait
(including miniatures), genre, bird and landscape painter, illustrator and writer.
in London
, the daughter of Herman Jochim Christian Turck, banker (b. 1792 Bailiwick of Guernsey) and Anne Louisa Tielkens (b. 1800 London
). Eliza showed an early aptitude for art and received lessons from her mother who was a talented amateur artist. She was educated initially in Germany
and on her return to England, in 1848, studied for 6 months at Cary’s School of Art
in London. Afterwards, she took lessons in oil painting from William Gale, and, in 1852, entered the figure class of the Female School of Art
in Gower Street
for a further year. She studied for 14 months, from 1859 to 1860, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, and was given some instruction by Nicaise de Keyser
, the director.
Turck exhibited at the Royal Academy
from 1854, and also at the British Institution
, Suffolk Street and elsewhere. Her work included genre paintings, literary subjects, coastal scenes, architecture, birds and miniatures
, painted in oil
or watercolour. Her works at the Royal Academy included ‘Rus in Urbe’, 1858, ‘Lady Dorothy in Breton Costume’, 1880 and ‘In St. Mark’s, Venice’, 1885. Her Royal Academy picture of 1856 ‘Cinderella’ was one of forty pictures selected by John Ruskin
for criticism in his Academy Notes: “Very pretty, and well studied, but Cinderella does not look the lady of the fairy tale. I am rather puzzled myself to know how her relationship to her remarkable godmother could best be indicated so as to leave her still a quite real little lady in a real kitchen. But I am glad to see this sternly realistic treatment, at all events’.
She exhibited at the International Exhibition in 1871, and her watercolours of Brittany
were shown at Rogers Gallery, Maddox Street in 1879. About these The Art Journal
wrote: ‘Her colouring is close to nature and full of tender greys, especially in the sky, while her touch is broad, free and Cox-like.’
She provided many illustrations for the 1883 edition of W. Swaysland's 4-volume "Familiar Wild birds" She also wrote "A practical handbook to marqueterie wood-staining and kindred arts" (pub. L. Upcott Gill, 1899).
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
portrait
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
(including miniatures), genre, bird and landscape painter, illustrator and writer.
Life and work
Turck was born in IslingtonIslington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
in 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...
, the daughter of Herman Jochim Christian Turck, banker (b. 1792 Bailiwick of Guernsey) and Anne Louisa Tielkens (b. 1800 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...
). Eliza showed an early aptitude for art and received lessons from her mother who was a talented amateur artist. She was educated initially in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and on her return to England, in 1848, studied for 6 months at Cary’s School of Art
Francis Stephen Cary
Francis Stephen Cary was an English painter and art-teacher, who succeeded Henry Sass as the head of Sass's art academy.-Life and work:...
in London. Afterwards, she took lessons in oil painting from William Gale, and, in 1852, entered the figure class of the Female School of Art
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London. The school has an outstanding international reputation, and is considered one of the world's leading art and design institutions...
in Gower Street
Gower Street (London)
Gower Street is a street in Bloomsbury, Central London, England, running between Euston Road to the north and Montague Place to the south.North Gower Street is a separate street running north of the Euston Road...
for a further year. She studied for 14 months, from 1859 to 1860, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, and was given some instruction by Nicaise de Keyser
Nicaise de Keyser
Nicaise de Keyser , was a Belgian painter of portraits and historical tableaux.He received his painting tuition at the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts under Joseph Jacobs and Bree, before leaving for Italy in 1839...
, the director.
Turck exhibited at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
from 1854, and also at the British Institution
British Institution
The British Institution was a private 19th-century society in London formed to exhibit the works of living and dead artists; it was also known as the Pall Mall Picture Galleries or the British Gallery...
, Suffolk Street and elsewhere. Her work included genre paintings, literary subjects, coastal scenes, architecture, birds and miniatures
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
, painted in oil
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
or watercolour. Her works at the Royal Academy included ‘Rus in Urbe’, 1858, ‘Lady Dorothy in Breton Costume’, 1880 and ‘In St. Mark’s, Venice’, 1885. Her Royal Academy picture of 1856 ‘Cinderella’ was one of forty pictures selected by John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
for criticism in his Academy Notes: “Very pretty, and well studied, but Cinderella does not look the lady of the fairy tale. I am rather puzzled myself to know how her relationship to her remarkable godmother could best be indicated so as to leave her still a quite real little lady in a real kitchen. But I am glad to see this sternly realistic treatment, at all events’.
She exhibited at the International Exhibition in 1871, and her watercolours of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
were shown at Rogers Gallery, Maddox Street in 1879. About these The Art Journal
The Art Journal
The Art Journal, published in London, was the most important Victorian magazine on art. It was founded in 1839 by Hodgson & Graves, print publishers, 6 Pall Mall, with the title the Art Union Monthly Journal, the first issue of 750 copies appearing 15 February 1839.Hodgson & Graves hired Samuel...
wrote: ‘Her colouring is close to nature and full of tender greys, especially in the sky, while her touch is broad, free and Cox-like.’
She provided many illustrations for the 1883 edition of W. Swaysland's 4-volume "Familiar Wild birds" She also wrote "A practical handbook to marqueterie wood-staining and kindred arts" (pub. L. Upcott Gill, 1899).