Helen Allingham

Helen Paterson Allingham (1848-1926)


Helen Paterson Allingham was an English painter and illustrator with full name Helen Mary Paterson, Mrs. Allingham who was married with well known (and much older) poet from Ireland William Allingham, but became successful before she met him. Next illustration is from poem The Bird from the collection Rhymes for Young Folk, written by her husband, project where few other relatives and close friends of the pair participated. Most famous of all was another astonishing artist Kate Greenaway. Before we steal the show from Mrs. Allingham, take a moment and check next scene:


Helen Allingham illustrated many books for children and young adults. She also worked for several magazines and exhibited many paintings. She was watercolorist of top class and first woman elected in Royal Watercolour Society as full member (this is why RWS stands by her name in some cases).

It's fair to mention working with another established female artist of the second half of 19th century: Juliana Horatia Ewing.

Believe it or not, the area where Helen Allingham received the biggest share of fame and pretty good money was somewhere else: she was a painter of cottages. Maybe surprising. Surely effective.

She could live from art and this is all an artist can ever wish!

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