Demorgan, Evelyn (1850–1919)

English painter. Name variations: Evelyn De Morgan; Evelyn Pickering, Mary Evelyn Pickering, Mrs. William De Morgan. Born Mary Evelyn Pickering, Aug 30, 1855, in London, England; died May 2, 1919, in London; dau. of Percival Pickering (senior barrister) and Anna Maria Wilhemina Spencer-Stanhope; studied with her uncle, artist John Rodham Spencer-Stanhope; studied at Slade School of Art under Edward J. Poynter; m. William DeMorgan (novelist, potter, designer, important figure in Arts and Crafts movement), 1887.

Successful Pre-Raphaelite painter, sold 1st painting Tobias and the Angel (1875) and had 1st exhibition at Dudley Gallery (1876); invited to exhibit at prestigious Grosvenor Gallery in London, met with great success and became a regular exhibitor there; moved into studio in Chelsea; wintered every year in Florence due to husband's health (1890–1914) and flourished in Italian milieu; exhibited frequently, holding show at Leighton House (1902–03), solo exhibition at Bruton Gallery (1906), 25 works at Wolverhampton Art Gallery (1907); influenced by classics, mythology and Renaissance art, was part of Pre-Raphaelite circle that included Edward Burne-Jones, and her paintings reflect his influence; was also influenced by popular Spiritualist movement; collaborated with husband on writings addressing philosophical and spiritual themes, which was published anonymously as The Result of an Experiment (1890).

See also Catherine Gordon, ed. Evelyn De Morgan Oil Paintings (De Morgan Foundation, 1996).