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Inspiration from Artists Wk 72 Bonus Artist Lilian Trotter,
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Posted
Welcome to this weekends thread the bonus artist this week is
Lilias Trotter 1853- 1928
Lilias was a British artist and Professional Missionary in Algeria .
Although a nearly self taught artist, her mother believed her talent to be exceptional and 1976 sent some of her artwork to John Ruskin whilst all three we’re staying in Venice . Ruskin liked Trotters work and she became a informal student and good friend. Ruskin told her that if she devoted her life to her artwork ,.” She would become greatest living artist and do things that would be immortal.
Although drawn to the prospect of a life in art in May 1879 she decided she could not give herself to “ to painting and to continue still to ‘ seek first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness”
She and Ruskin remained friends and he never relinquished the hope that she would return to art.
I hope you enjoy the artwork, the is a good Bio about Lilias on Wikipedia.
I be an aware of her a few weeks ago when I bough a small booklet of her work in a charity shop for £1., photo attached .
Posted
As Carol says, always a delight to look into other people's sketchbooks, and these are very good indeed. I was intrigued by Dixie's mention of the Ruskin quote....'become world's greatest artist'...'do immortal things'...as much as I like the sketches that seems a bit over the top. I googled her, expected to see a few finished paintings. It was all sketchbook stuff.
A talented lady.
Posted
It’s good that her work is still appreciated though I doubt she would have been seeking fame in her lifetime.
I thought Ruskin was a bit OTT with his comments Lew, apparently he was still mourning the loss of his model and lover so maybe his thoughts were elsewhere at the time. I do enjoy seeing old sketchbooks and I have been fortunate to come across a couple of copies of them recently, there is something more personal about them and often not what the artist would normally produce . I think Carol is right in that they are private and maybe not intended to share , they look more freely done and more relaxed I’m my view anyway. They are really good choices Jenny and I agree they are quite sensitively done , it did cross my mind as to how we’ll known she would might be now had she decided to follow Ruskin’s advice. Obviously a devout and very strong woman to have taken the decision and live her life as she did , you have to admire her for that .
