Lilias Trotter, Victorian Gouache Painter

Lilias Trotter’s mentor, John Ruskin, said that if she stuck with it, she could become the “greatest living painter” and create immortal works.

She did stick with it, but her first calling was as a Christian missionary. She overcame resistance from people around her and traveled to Algeria, where she spent 40 years of her life.

She painted lots of little gouache sketches in her sketchbooks and illustrated letters.

Her studies are executed with strokes that are economical, relaxed, and graceful.

She was also interested in light and atmosphere, both in her landscapes and in her spiritual writings. She said: “Believe in the darkness what you have seen in the light."

There's a movie about her on YouTube. More on my Substack page.