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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
