Florence Du Cane

Ella Du Cane (1874-1943) was a British artist best known for her watercolors of landscapes and exotic locations. Ella Mary Du Cane was the third and youngest daughter of Sir Charles Du Cane, a politician and colonial administrator, and his wife, Georgiana Susan Copley. She was the great-granddaughter of artist John Singleton Copley via her mother. She was born in Hobart, Tasmania, during the final year of her father's five-year time as Governor of Tasmania, just before the family returned to...See more

Ella Du Cane (1874-1943) was a British artist best known for her watercolors of landscapes and exotic locations. Ella Mary Du Cane was the third and youngest daughter of Sir Charles Du Cane, a politician and colonial administrator, and his wife, Georgiana Susan Copley. She was the great-granddaughter of artist John Singleton Copley via her mother. She was born in Hobart, Tasmania, during the final year of her father's five-year time as Governor of Tasmania, just before the family returned to their country house at Braxted Park, Essex. Charles was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in Essex, where he also served as Chairman of the Board of Customs. Her sister, Florence, was born in 1869. Ella Du Cane rose to artistic prominence in 1893, when she participated in an exhibition of the elite New Society of Painters in Water Colours. Queen Victoria took a special interest in Du Cane's work, purchasing 26 pieces between December 1895 and August 1898. With success came opportunities to travel. A 1902 exhibition of watercolor drawings from the West Indies was followed by a 1904 display of Japanese paintings. In 1905, A & C Black commissioned Du Cane to illustrate The Italian Lakes (1905), which was described by Richard Bagot. The corporation also utilized numerous of her Japan photographs in John Finnemore's book. See less