Catherine Gage facts for kids

Catherine Gage (born May 18, 1815 – died February 16, 1892) was an Irish artist. She was known for drawing plants (a botanist) and birds (an ornithological illustrator).

About Catherine Gage

Gage's home, Manor House, Rathlin Island

Catherine Gage was born in County Down, Northern Ireland, on May 18, 1815. Her parents were Rev. Robert Gage and Catherine Boyd. Catherine lived her whole life at the family home, Manor House, on Rathlin Island. She passed away on February 16, 1892, and was buried on Rathlin Island.

Her Amazing Artwork

Catherine Gage spent much of her life drawing pictures for a book. This book was about the birds of Rathlin Island and was written by her brother, Robert Gage. Sadly, the book was never published.

Drawing Birds

Catherine's bird drawings were very detailed. She made over 500 watercolor paintings of birds. Her brother's book was planned to be like The Birds of America by John James Audubon. This shows how important and detailed her work was.

Drawing Plants

Catherine also drew many local plants. She even made a list of plants for the Botanical Society of Scotland. A short summary of her work was published in a science magazine in 1850. She also worked with her sister, Barbara Gage, to draw both plants and animals from their area.

Art for Sale

In 2010, a collection of Catherine's bird drawings was sold at an auction. They were bought for €13,500, which shows how much her artwork is valued.