Description

Extended Data

Birth Place

Launceston, Van Diemen's Land, Launceston, Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania)

Biography

miniature painter and sketcher, is said to have been born in Launceston, Van Diemen’s Land, on 5 July 1825, although she was presumably related to the family of John de Little who arrived at Hobart Town in 1830. After marrying Alfred Douglass in Van Diemen’s Land, she accompanied him to Geelong, Victoria where she lived from 1850 until her death on 25 December 1902. Of her seven children, only two survived infancy. Elizabeth Douglass’s work, which included miniature portraits on ivory, chalk drawings and local watercolour views, was exhibited at the Geelong Mechanics Institute in 1857 and 1869. As well, her arrangement of Skeleton Leaves and Flowers was exhibited there in 1862; her scrapbook (Mitchell Library) contains the certificate of merit she was awarded for this. The book also contains Douglass’s extensive collection of English and European engravings as well as a small number of competent copies, mostly in oil. All are unsigned but are presumably her work. The most striking of these is a watercolour portrait on ivory of Amy Robsart, copied from the engraving by J. Hayter. This entry is a stub. You can help DAAO by submitting a biography. Writers: Date written: 1992 Last updated: 1989

Born

b. 5 July 1825

Summary

Elizabeth Douglass worked mainly in miniature portraits on ivory, chalk drawings, watercolour, engraving and oil colour. Her work received recognition at the Geelong Mechanics Institute, where she exhibited in the 1850's and early 1860's.

Gender

Female

Died

25-Dec-02

Age at death

77