Adelaide Claxton

Adelaide Sophia Claxton, born on May 10, 1841 in the vibrant metropolis of London, enjoyed the privilege of growing up in a family with an artistic background. She was one of the two talented daughters of the recognized British painter Marshall Claxton. It was precisely Adelaide and her sister Florence who continued their father's legacy and grew up to be capable painters.

Adelaide's artistic training began at the prestigious Cary's School in London's Bloomsbury district. There she discovered her fondness for watercolor and specialized in painting figures. Unlike her father, who was known for his large-scale oil paintings, Adelaide had developed a different artistic style, characterized by delicate and detailed watercolors. In her younger years, in 1850, Adelaide took an adventurous journey. Together with her family, she moved to Australia, where she lived for four years before returning to England via Calcutta, India. This experience shaped Adelaide and was later reflected in her art.

Her works were known for their harmonious blend of domestic life with literary and fantastical elements. She wove ghosts and dreams into her art as well as everyday scenes. In the late 1850s, Adelaide began exhibiting her artwork. She became a member of the Society of Women Artists and exhibited her work several times at the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Hibernian Academy, and the Royal Society of British Artists. One of her most famous works, "A Midsummer Night's Dream at Hampton Court," was so popular that she painted five copies of it. Another, "Little Nell," she copied as many as 13 times.

Adelaide Claxton gained special fame for her satirical and comic illustrations of high society, which she sold to several popular magazines. She was a pioneer among British women artists who worked regularly for the magazine market, receiving between £2 and £7 per illustration. In the second phase of her life, Adelaide married George Gordon Turner in 1874, which marked a turning point in her career. After their marriage, they retired to Chiswick and had a son. She turned to new interests and began patenting inventions. In the 1890s, she registered several patents under her married name, Adelaide Sophia Turner, including an "Armpit-Crutch for Bed-Rests and Chair-Backs" and "Ear-caps for outstanding ears."

Adelaide Sophia Claxton passed away on August 29, 1927, but her extraordinary life and artistic achievements have secured her place in art history. Today, her works are exhibited in prestigious art institutions, including the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool, and still enjoy great popularity.