Florence Ross facts for kids

Florence Agnes Ross (born December 6, 1870 – died July 10, 1949) was a talented Irish painter. She was a cousin and close friend of the famous writer, John Millington Synge.

Florence Ross: An Irish Artist

Early Life and Adventures

Florence Ross was born in Ulster, Northern Ireland, on December 6, 1870. She was the youngest of three children. Her parents were Rev. William Steward Ross and Agnes Ross. Soon after Florence was born, her family moved to Dublin. They lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Annie Traill.

Florence grew up next door to her cousin, John Millington Synge. They were very close friends. They both loved nature and kept a special notebook. In this notebook, they wrote down their observations and drew pictures of animals. Synge later wrote that his childhood with Florence was the happiest time in his life.

As adults, they did not stay as close. However, Florence and Synge's sister were the only ones at his graduation from Trinity College Dublin. In 1891, Florence lived with the Synge family in Dún Laoghaire. She spent her summers with them in Annamoe, County Wicklow, where she enjoyed drawing.

In 1895, Florence moved to Tonga. Her brother was a doctor there, and she helped him by working as his housekeeper. For the next 11 years, she traveled a lot. She visited New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina. In 1906, she returned to Ireland. She lived in different places like Greystones, Clonlea, Dublin, and Blackrock. She even ran a sketching club near Glendalough. Florence Ross passed away on July 10, 1949, in Dublin.

Her Artistic Work

From 1906 onwards, Florence Ross spent her life painting. She mostly painted landscapes using watercolours. She spent a lot of time in County Wicklow with her cousin Elizabeth Synge. Because of this, many of her paintings show scenes from Wicklow.

Florence also traveled and sketched in other parts of Ireland. She painted in Antrim, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, and Kerry. She even sketched the "King's house" on Great Blasket Island, where Synge had stayed.

Florence showed her paintings in many exhibitions. From 1927 to 1948, she exhibited about 90 paintings with the Watercolour Society of Ireland. She also showed her work with the Belfast Art Society and the Ulster Academy of Arts. She had 8 paintings displayed at the Royal Hibernian Academy.

Most of her artworks were landscapes, often including buildings. While her work is not widely discussed by art experts, it is still important. You can find examples of her paintings in the South Tipperary County Museum and Art Gallery, the Hugh Lane Gallery, and the Waterford Municipal Collection.