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Unknown women artists - meet Lady Butler (1846-1933)


Now that I'm reading the fantastic book 'Story or Art without Men' by Katy Hessel I'm getting to know so many interesting artists, which I wanted to share with you.

The story of Lady Buttler really caught my attention - She was a realist painter who produced the colossal Calling the Roll after Engagement, Crimea 1874. Her work was an absolute obsession after it was accepted by the London's Royal Academy of Arts: crowds gathered, long queues formed and security was brought to control the many punters who wanted to have a glance at the picture. Why? Because the public (including John Ruskin) could not believe such a macho topic was so beautifully depicted by a woman. Ruskin even said this was an exception to his statement 'no women can paint'.

Sadly however and all too common, Butler was completely forgotten within 2 years due to her marriage and family life, which reduced her to complete anonymity.

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