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de L'Aubiniere, Georgina Martha
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Dates of existence
1848-1930
History
In an era when women artists struggled for recognition, Georgina Steeple de l’Aubinière enjoyed a successful career as a painter, including recognition by Queen Victoria who purchased two of her paintings.
Born Georgina Martha Steeple in 1848 in England, she was the daughter of the watercolourist, John Steeple. She studied art and exhibited at the Royal Academy, moving to Paris where she studied with Camille Corot and Jean-Leon Gerome, exhibiting at the Cercle des Arts Libéraux in 1882.
While in France, she married Constant, or Charles, Auguste de l’Aubinière. In the 1880’s they toured and exhibited extensively in the United States, arriving in Victoria in December 1886. Their European reputation served them well in Victoria’s nascent arts scene. The couple gave art and painting lessons and advocated (in vain) for the establishment of a museum and art school. Martha Douglas, daughter of Sir James Douglas, and Susan Reynolds Crease, a future artist and women’s rights’ activist, were among Georgina’s students. The couple is also credited with encouraging Emily Carr’s artistic dreams, although she would later be critical of their depiction of British Columbia.
Georgina was commissioned to paint a landscape for the British Columbia “Address to Queen Victoria on Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee.” In June 1887, following the success of the address the de l’Aubinières exhibited 150 of their paintings. Local reviews of the works, which showcased BC scenery, were enthusiastic, with Georgina’s paintings arguably gaining more acclaim than her husband’s.
After leaving Victoria in late 1887, Georgina and Constant lived and exhibited in Montreal for a number of years. One of Georgina’s paintings was purchased by Sir Donald A. Smith.
Constant died in 1910. Georgina lived the rest of her life in Cornwall, continuing to paint. In 1916 she was commissioned to paint two landscapes for the new BC House, located in London, England.
She died in Bodmin, Cornwall in 1930.
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- IYOUNG 2023-03-23
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Source: Visual Records database