Mary Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale was an Edwardian period English illustrator, gallery artist and stained glass designer.
She studied at the Crystal Palace School of Art and then at Royal Academy, and was elected to the Royal Watercolour Society.
She illustrated children’s books, Authurian ledgends and poetry by well known authors including Tennyson and Browning. She worked initially in pen and ink and later in color.
Her gallery paintings were in the spirit of the Pre-Raphaelites, rich with jewel-like color, literary themes and the luxurious detail characteristic of the style.
At a time when women artists were restricted in their access to art instruction and often compartmentalized as lesser than their male counterparts, Fortescue-Brickdale earned the respect of both the fine art and illustration establishments with her outstanding work.
