Lady Eveline Marie Alexander facts for kids

Lady Eveline Marie Alexander (born April 16, 1821 – died 1906) was a talented artist. She was from both Britain and Canada. What's cool is that she taught herself how to paint!

Painting of a Man In the Snow by Lady Eveline Marie Alexander

Discovering Lady Eveline's Life

Lady Eveline Marie Alexander was born on April 16, 1821. Her birthplace was Nantes, a city in France. Her maiden name was Michell.

Her Family Background

Eveline's father was Colonel Charles Collier Michell. He was born in 1793 in Exeter, England. Her mother was Anne D'Arragon, born in Spain in 1799. Eveline was born shortly after her parents married in 1814. Her father was a member of the Royal Artillery, a military group.

How She Became an Artist

Not a lot is known about Lady Eveline's early life. But we do know she became a skilled painter. She worked mainly with oil paints and watercolors. She didn't go to an art school or have official training. People believe she learned to paint from her father. He was a military drawing teacher at the Royal Military College.

Marriage and Moving to Canada

In 1837, Eveline married Sir James Edward Alexander. They had five children together. Her husband was a military officer. From 1841 to 1849, she traveled with him to Canada. They lived in London, Ontario, while he was stationed there.

Her Later Years

Lady Eveline Marie Alexander passed away in 1906. She died on the Isle of Wight, an island off the coast of England.

Exploring Her Amazing Artwork

Lady Eveline was known for painting beautiful scenes. She especially loved to paint winter scenes.

Grand Military Steeple Chase by Lady Eveline Marie Alexander

Winter and Sleighing Scenes

One of her famous types of art was "sleighing scenes." These were pictures of people riding in sleighs during winter. She often painted snowy landscapes. For example, she drew a picture of an Indigenous man walking through a snowstorm. This shows her love for winter settings.

The Famous Steeplechase Painting

While in Canada, Lady Eveline created a very important sketch. It showed a military steeplechase race. A steeplechase is a horse race with obstacles. This particular race happened in May 1843. It was the first military steeplechase in North America. Her sketch was later made into a lithograph. A lithograph is a type of print.

This print was called Grand Military Steeple Chase. It became one of her most well-known works. It was very popular in England during her time. People loved to collect it.

Where to Find Her Art Today

Today, you can find Lady Eveline's prints in museums. Most of them are in Canada. This is because she created some of her most famous artwork there.