Mabel Annesley facts for kids

Lady Mabel Marguerite Annesley (born February 25, 1881 – died June 19, 1959) was a talented artist. She was especially known for her wood engravings and beautiful watercolour paintings. Her artworks are so good that they are kept in famous museums around the world, like the British Museum and the National Gallery of Canada. She even showed her art at the Festival of Britain in 1952!

Mabel's Early Life and Family

Mabel Annesley was born on February 25, 1881, in London, England. Her father was Hugh Annesley, who was an Earl and a soldier. Her mother was Mabel Wilhelmina Frances Markham. Mabel's mother was related to Sir Francis Grant, a famous portrait painter and head of the Royal Academy of Arts. Mabel also had a half-sister, Lady Constance Malleson, who became a writer and actress.

Mabel started learning art at home. When she was 14, in 1895, she went to the Frank Calderon School of Animal Painting in London. By the time she was 18, she was already a member of the Belfast Art Society. She showed her art there for many years, from 1899 to 1926.

In 1904, Mabel married Gerald Sowerby. He was a naval officer. They had one son named Gerald Francis Sowerby. Sadly, her husband died in 1913. A year later, Mabel inherited Castlewellan Castle when her brother Francis passed away. She moved back to the Castle in 1914 and started using her maiden name, Annesley, again. The Castle was famous for its amazing collection of trees and plants, called an arboretum. Mabel worked hard to take care of it.

Her Artistic Journey

When Mabel was about 40 years old, she learned a special art technique called wood engraving. She studied at the Central School in London from 1920 to 1921, learning from Noel Rooke. She quickly became one of the best wood engravers in Britain, alongside artists like Gwen Raverat.

Mabel showed 27 of her wood engravings with the Society of Wood Engravers between 1922 and 1939. She became a member of the society in 1925. She also gave talks about wood engraving at her studio in Belfast. Mabel illustrated several books, including Songs from Robert Burns (1925) and County Down Songs (1924). Later in life, when she developed arthritis, she used lino instead of wood for her engravings, which was easier for her.

Mabel also showed her watercolour paintings. She exhibited with the Watercolour Society of Ireland in 1926 and the Dublin Painters in 1938. Her work was even shown in an Irish art exhibition in Brussels in 1930. In 1932, she helped design costumes for a big historical show in County Down. Around 1933, some of her watercolours and wood engravings were shown at the Batsford Gallery in London. In 1934, she was made an honorary member of the Royal Ulster Academy. She also gave a collection of her wood engravings to the Ulster Museum in 1939.

Mabel moved homes several times, living in places like Belfast, Connemara, and Rathfriland. During the Second World War, she moved to New Zealand. She returned to England in 1953 and settled in Suffolk. While in New Zealand, she was a trustee for the Bishop Suter Art Gallery in Nelson and bought art for them when she visited England.

Later Life and Recognition

Lady Mabel Annesley passed away on June 19, 1959, in Clare, Suffolk. She was buried in Long Melford, Suffolk. She had been writing a book about her life called As the Sight Is Bent, which was published after she died in 1964. In her book, she mentioned that artists like Paul Nash and David Jones were important inspirations for her. A special exhibition of her artwork was held in 1960 to remember her.

Today, Mabel Annesley is honored with a blue plaque from the Ulster History Circle at the Arboretum in Castlewellan Forest Park, County Down. This plaque helps people remember her contributions to art and her connection to the area.

Arms

See also

In Spanish: Mabel Annesley para niños