Emma Crewe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emma Crewe
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Miss Emma Crewe and Miss Elizabeth Crewe by John Dixon after Sir Joshua Reynolds
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| Born | 14 July 1741 London
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| Died | 1850 (aged 69–70) |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Foster Cunliffe-Offley |
Emma Crewe (born in 1741, and active until at least 1795) was a talented British artist. She was famous for creating designs for Josiah Wedgwood, who made beautiful pottery. Emma was also known for her amazing botanical art, which means she painted plants and flowers.
Contents
About Emma Crewe's Life
Emma Crewe was born in 1741 in London. Her mother was Elizabeth Shuttleworth, and her father was John Crewe. Both her parents came from important families. Her grandfather, Richard Shuttleworth, was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lancashire. Her father, John Crewe, was also an MP for Cheshire.
Emma was the second of six children. She was especially close to her younger sister, Elizabeth. Emma never married. She was financially secure because her father set up a special trust for her before he passed away. She often lived with her brother, John Crewe, 1st Baron Crewe, and his wife, Frances Crewe, Lady Crewe. Frances was a well-known hostess in society. Through them, Emma met the famous pottery maker, Josiah Wedgwood.
Emma Crewe's Artistic Work
Emma Crewe was a very creative artist. She designed many beautiful pieces for Josiah Wedgwood. Wedgwood had a studio in Rome where he reproduced these designs. Emma worked alongside other talented artists like Lady Diana Beauclerk and Elizabeth Templetown, creating designs in the Romantic style.
Botanical Art and Illustrations
Emma Crewe also loved to paint plants and flowers. This type of art is called botanical art. She was part of a group of thinkers and artists around Erasmus Darwin, who was a famous doctor and poet. Emma painted the front cover picture for the second edition of his book, The Loves of the Plants, which came out in 1790.
One of her paintings, "Flora at Play with Cupid," was very detailed. Some people, like Richard Polwhele, thought it was a bit too dramatic or "luxuriously melting" for the time. However, it showed her unique artistic style.
Today, many of Emma Crewe's drawings and designs are kept in important places like the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Images for kids
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Emma Crewe, "Flora at Play with Cupid." This was the front cover picture for Erasmus Darwin's book The Loves of the Plants.
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A young woman sits with a book on her knee and a child by her side. This is a stipple engraving made by Emma Crewe in 1783.
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Belt clasp designed by Lady Templeton and Emma Crewe for Josiah Wedgwood's factory. It is made of Jasperware, steel, and tin. You can see it at The Walters Art Museum.
See also
- Jasperware
- Wedgwood
