Mary Morton Allport

Mary Morton Allport (17 May 1806 – 10 June 1895) was an English-Australian artist who is thought to be Australia's first colonial professional female artist, lithographer, etcher and engraver. Mary painted landcapes and miniature portraits.

Born on 17 May 1806 in Birmingham, England, Mary Morton Chapman married Joseph Allport on 20 December 1826. Mary, Joseph and their son Curzon emigrated to Australia with in 1831.

The Allports arrived in Van Diemens Land in December 1831 via the Platina.

As early as 1832, Mary advertised that she would paint miniatures on request and is known to have given art lessons to her children and others.

Mary died on 10 June 1895 at her home 'Aldridge Lodge' in Tasmania, Australia, aged 88. She is buried at Queenborough Cemetery, Hobart.

According to online catalogues, artworks attributed to Mary Morton Allport can be found in the collections of the Allport Library and Museum of Fine Arts and the National Gallery of Australia.

Allport Library + Museum of Fine Arts in Hobart, Tasmania commemorates the Allport family's contribution to Tasmanian history and culture.

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