The future artist was born on March 9, 1865, in Edinburgh.
Jemima’s family could be the subject of an entire book, as many of her relatives were important and influential figures. For instance, her great-grandfather, John Wedderburn, was executed in 1745 for participating in the Jacobite rebellion.
As for Jemima herself, she studied under John Ruskin and Edwin Landseer, maintaining close friendships with both of them.
Her husband, mathematician Hugh Blackburn, and Jemima settled in Roshven in 1854. Over time, many notable figures who were friends of the couple visited their home.
Spanish Life
As time passed, Jemima’s passion for art grew stronger. In 1900, she went to Spain, where she studied the works of the legendary artist Diego Velázquez in Madrid.
However, it was the culture, atmosphere, and nature of Spain that truly captured the young artist’s heart. This, in turn, had a significant impact on her later works.
Jemima painted many Spanish scenes, including those with rather violent undertones, such as battlefields or bullfights. Her paintings were so realistic that her native Scotland often criticized her for such detailed depictions of violent scenes.
Active Involvement
In terms of Jemima’s role in the art world, it is important to highlight that she was one of the founders of The Edinburgh Ladies Art Club. She also played an active role in organizing the first exhibition of The Society of Scottish Artists.
Additionally, between 1886 and 1919, Cameron displayed her work at The Royal Scottish Academy.
However, her personal exhibitions stand out in her artistic biography. From 1908 to 1913, she held solo exhibitions in Edinburgh, London, and Paris. Critics, after viewing her work, concluded that Cameron could undoubtedly be considered one of the “strong, light, and fearless” artists.
By the way, speaking of Paris, in 1904, her painting Portrait de Mme. Blair et ses borzois was awarded “Mention Honorable” at a famous exhibition in the city. The painting depicted her sister Flora with two Russian Hunting Sighthounds.
In 1905, this work was published in the book Women Painters of the World.
Knowledge of Languages
It is often said that a talented person excels in everything. Mary’s biography is a perfect example of this. Not only was she an incredibly talented artist, but she also had a great aptitude for languages and was fluent in French and Spanish. Moreover, her language skills didn’t stop there—she also had a good command of Russian, Italian, and German, at least being able to read in those languages.
Mary Cameron is a perfect example of how multifaceted and fascinating a talented person can be. It might seem that a girl so deeply involved in art wouldn’t have any other interests, but aside from her creativity, Mary exhibited excellent language skills as well.
This aspect also deserves respect, as it is no easy feat. Yet, Cameron found time for it.
However, if we focus more on Mary’s artistic endeavors, it is fair to say that she devoted herself to her work wholeheartedly. Even the fact that she attended veterinary lectures during her studies shows how deeply interested she was in achieving the most natural results. Much of her realism in her paintings can be attributed to her incredible dedication to improving her craft.
So, it turns out that everything was worth it. The years of study and honing her talent led to Mary’s paintings becoming valuable cultural treasures. Or perhaps it’s Edinburgh itself? After all, this city “gives birth” to true geniuses, and time only confirms this truth.