Elizabeth Liddell

Elizabeth Liddell (also sometimes called Mrs Robert Hodshon Cay) (1770 – 1831) was a British artist specialising in pastel portraits.[1]

She was wife of Robert Hodshon Cay, mother of John Cay, mother-in-law of John Clerk-Maxwell of Middlebie and grandmother of James Clerk Maxwell.

Life

She was the daughter of John Liddell (1735-1802) of Dockwray Square in North Shields and his wife, Jane Hubback (1736-1805). Her father is thought to have been a ship-owner, probably establishing the naval link to her future husband.[2]

She was taught pastel portraiture by Archibald Skirving. She also had contact with Sir Henry Raeburn who is known to have painted both her husband Robert and her mother. William Bewick is also known to have painted her sister Barbara Liddell, so it is clear hat her whole family lived in very artistic circles.[1] In 1797 she is recorded as having an adult baptism at the Charlotte Chapel in Rose Street, Edinburgh (near Charlotte Square) indicating conversion to the Baptist Church.[2] Following the death of her husband Robert in 1810 she continued to live in the huge family home at 11 Heriot Row until death. Her son John Cay shared the house until around 1825 then moved to 5 South East Circus Place, slightly to the north.[3]

She died in Edinburgh.

Her box of art materials is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The box proves her pastel work was applied by cloth or brush rather than in stick form.

Works

Whilst other works undoubtedly exist the only portraits of known named persons exist as a group at the James Clerk Maxwell Museum at 14 India Street in Edinburgh.

Other more vague works include:

Family

She married Robert Hodshon Cay of North Charlton in Edinburgh in 1789. They had nine children, including:

References

  1. 1 2 "Neil Jeffares : Dictionary of Panellists before 1800" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  2. 1 2 "The Episcopal Congregation of Charlotte Chapel, 1792-1818". Archive.stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  3. ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1830-31


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