Helen Mary Elizabeth Allingham, R.W.S. (1848-1926)

Following her marriage in 1874, Helen Allingham, gave up her career with The Graphic, and she began experimenting with watercolours, mostly in the form of portraits of young children, from her Chelsea studio.

John Ruskin was clearly unimpressed. In The Art of England he described Mrs Allingham's portraits as 'uninteresting miniatures'. However, there were many who did not share his view as they were her main source of income. In 1880 an enquirer was informed by the artist that she charged 25 guineas.

Portrait subjects ranged from young girls and boys, to elderly village folk as well as high-profile individuals, such as Lord Tennyson and Thomas Carlyle.

Christie's would like to thank Annabel Watts for her assistance in compiling this catalogue note.