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Christina Sanders Robertson was born in Fife, Scotland (1796). She is not a well known artist today, but was among the most respected in the 19th century, certainly among the most populr British woman artists. Her father was a coach painter. Her uncle was a successful miniaturist. He taught her to paint and helped her begin her career, at the time unusual for a woman. She was a portratist. She married a fellow-artist James Robertson (1822). She set up her own studio in London (1828). S=he was the first woman to become an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy (1829). She was also exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London. Her portraits were so popular that they were engraved so they could be reproduced in ladies's magazines and popular journals. She was popular with clients not only because of here brilliantly relaistic renderings and her tendcy to flatter. Few artistists depicted jewels and clothing in such detail. Although born in Scotland, she is best known for her work in Tsarist Russia society. While a masterful draftsman, modern critics complain that you do not get much of a feeling for personlity as the subjects ar idalied and the impression given are draped in sentimentality and made to look virtuous. Her works were mostly adult aristiocrats and the well-to-do. She painted a few children. Perhaps the best best know is 'Children with a parrot' (1850). The identity of the children is unknown. We do know that the boy was a page at the Russian court because he wears the uniform of St Petersburg's prestigious Corps de Pages. Notice how sweet and virtuous the children are depicted. She had eight children, sonething no other female managed abd she left then home when she first went to Paris (1837). While in Paris she was commisioned by several aristocrats. This led her to St. Petersburg (1839). She painted the Royal family, after which she had no lack of commisions from St. Petersburg socity. It is for her Russian work tght she is best known today. She died in St. Petersburg (1854).
Christina Sanders Robertson was born in Fife, Scotland (1796). Her father was a coach painter. Her uncle was a successful miniaturist. He taught her to paint and helped her begin her career, at the time unusual for a woman. She was a portratist.
Sanders married a fellow-artist James Robertson (1822). The Roberstsons had eight children, four of which survived to adulthood. We do not know know of any other female artistvwjo had so many children. She left them for extnded periods as she worked so much broad during their childhood.
She set up her own studio in London (1828). She was the first woman to become an honorary member of the Royal Scottish Academy (1829). She was also exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London. Her portraits were so popular that they were engraved so they could be reproduced in ladies's magazines and popular journals. Her works were mostly adult aristiocrats and the well-to-do. She painted a few children.
Roberson was popular with clients not only because of here brilliantly relaistic renderings and her tendcy to flatter. Few artistists depicted jewels and clothing in such detail. Although born in Scotland, she is best known for her work in Tsarist Russia society. While a masterful draftsman, modern critics complain that you do not get much of a feeling for personlity as the subjects ar idalied and the impression given are draped in sentimentality and made to look virtuous. One blog poster commebts that he work looks like a Vogue cover. Modern critics might describe some of the portraits as candy box art.
She first went to Paris (1837). While in Paris she was commisioned by several aristocrats. This led her to St. Petersburg (1839).
It is for her Russian work that Roberson is best known today. She painted the Royal family, after which she had no lack of commisions from St. Petersburg socity. It is for her Russian work that she is best known today. Perhaps the best best know is 'Children with a parrot' (1850) (figure 1).. The identity of the children is unknown. We do know that the boy was a page at the Russian court because he wears the uniform of St Petersburg's prestigious Corps de Pages. Notice how sweet and virtuous the children are depicted. She returned to St. Petersburg several times. Strangely quite a number of her patrons refused to pay her. We do not fully understand that. Robertston died in St. Petersburg (1854).
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