Elizabeth Liddell

Elizabeth Liddell
Self-Portrait, in blue striped dress with black lace shawl, pastel (James Clerk Maxwell Foundation)
Born	1770
Died	1831
Nationality	United Kingdom
Occupation	artist
Spouse(s)	Robert Hodshon Cay

Elizabeth Liddell (also sometimes called Mrs. Robert Hodshon Cay) (1770–1831) was an amateur British artist specialising in pastel portraits.

She was wife of Robert Hodshon Cay, mother of John Cay, mother-in-law of John Clerk-Maxwell of Middlebie and grandmother of James Clerk Maxwell.

She was the daughter of John Liddell (1735–1802) of Dockwray Square in North Shields and Jane Hubback (1736–1805). Her father is thought to have been a ship-owner, probably establishing the naval link to her future husband. She married Robert Hodshon Cay, a noted Scottish judge, in 1789.

She studied under Archibald Skirving, a fellow British artist. From him, she learned to paint pastels and portraits. She also had contact with Sir Henry Raeburn who is known to have painted both her husband Robert and her mother. William Bewick is also known to have painted her sister, Barbara. In 1797 she is recorded as having an adult baptism at the Charlotte Chapel in Rose Street, Edinburgh (near Charlotte Square) indicating conversion to the Baptist Church. Following the death of her husband Robert in 1810 she continued to live in the family home until death. Her son John Cay shared the house until around 1825, before moving to 5 South East Circus Place, slightly to the north.

She died in Edinburgh.

Her box of art materials is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The box proves her pastel work was applied by cloth or brush rather than in stick form.

Whilst other works undoubtedly exist the only portraits of known named persons exist as a group at the James Clerk Maxwell Museum at 14 India Street in Edinburgh.

Other more vague works include:

She married Robert Hodshon Cay of North Charlton in Edinburgh in 1789. They had nine children, including: