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THRESHER, Eliza W.

Born
New York, United States, 1788
Died
Montreal, Quebec, 1865
Biography synopsis
Eliza Thresher (née Wilson Brooks) is considered by some to be Nova Scotia's first professional woman artist. She and her artist husband lived at different times in Philadelphia, Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown and Pictou as the couple attempted to make a suitable living. In Montreal (1816) George and Eliza Thresher ran an academy teaching drawing in crayon and chalk and painting in water colours and oils. In order to augment their income while in Halifax (1821-23), Eliza operated a school for young ladies. When the family moved to Charlottetown, she opened another school (1830) where a variety of subjects were taught, and her daughters gave lessons in drawing and painting. Her works are found at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery and Museum, Charlottetown and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia.
Media used
Drawing
Painting
Watercolour
File & Archive locations
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
"?" Quebec Telegraph 1 Jun. 1816
Harper, J. Russell. Early Painters and Engravers in Canada Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1970
Huneault, Kristina and Janice Anderson, eds. Rethinking Professionalism: Women and Art in Canada, 1850-1970. Montreal: McGill-Queen's Press, 2012
McKendry, Blake. A to Z of Canadian Art: Artists and Art Terms. Kingston: B. McKendry, 1997
O'Neill, Mora, Dianne. "A Path to Learning: Early Nova Scotian Women Artists." Art Gallery of Nova Scotia Journal 39 (Spring/Summer 2012): 26
Rogers, Irene L. Charlottetown: The Life in Its Buildings. Charlottetown: Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation, 1983
Tippett, Maria. By a Lady. Toronto: Viking, 1992
Williamson, Moncrieff. "Visual Arts." Canadian Antiques Collector 8.2 (Mar-Apr. 1973): 50-52

Writings by
Morrison, Robert and Eliza. Memoirs of the Life and Labours of Robert Morrison, compiled by his widow, Eliza Morrison. London: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1839
Thresher, E. W. "Classified Ad." Acadian Recorder (Halifax) 30 Aug. 1823
Thresher, E. W. "Classified Ad." Acadian Recorder (Halifax) 10 Feb. 1821
Thresher, E. W. "Classified Ad." Acadian Recorder (Halifax) 8 Sept. 1821
Thresher, E. W. "Classified Ad." Prince Edward Island Register (Charlottetown) 1 Jun. 1830

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