COLLETT, Sophia Elizabeth

1844 - 1899

Sophia Elizabeth Collett was born at Chelsworth, Suffolk on 28 October 1844 and baptised on 12 November 1844, eldest daughter of Revd William Collett (1819-1 February 1882), curate of Stanningfield, Suffolk, and his wife Mary Cecil Augusta née von Linsingen (1815-February 1864), who married at Woodbridge in 1843. In 1851, Sophia was a 6-year-old, living at 1 Westend Cottages, Bury St Edmund’s with her parents, 32-year-old William, born Walton cum Felixstowe, Suffolk and 36-year-old Mary Cecil, born London and siblings, Emily 5, Augusta 3 and Mary 1, all Chelsworth born, and they kept four servants. By 1861, her father had taken over as rector of Hawstead, near Bury St Edmund’s and the family were living at the parsonage house with the addition of three more children. Mary Cecil Augusta Collett died in 1864, when her father William took a new wife at St George's Hanover Square, London on 15 June 1869, Charlotte Johannah Caroline Stowiczett (1830-1926), and in 1871 they were living at Hawstead. In 1881, Sophia was on a visit to Wales, at the home of Richard Gough, the 81-year-old magistrate for Brecon, at Yniscedwyn House, Lower Ystradgynlais, Brecon. Sarah exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy also exhibiting at the Walker Art Gallery; Manchester City Art Gallery and the Royal Miniature Society, in 1888 from Chapel House, Eastgate Street, Bury St Edmund’s and in 1892 from Mustow House, Mustow Street, Bury St Edmund’s, this was the home of her unmarried sisters, Ellen and Augusta. Sophia also exhibited at the Bury St Edmund's Fine Art Society in 1887, a miniature of 'Miss J. Wodehouse'. Sophia Elizabeth Collett died at 16-17 Oakley Street, Chelsea on 15 August 1899, aged 54, she was unmarried.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from Chapel House, Bury St Edmund's
1889 1628 William D'Oyly, Esq. - miniature
from 15 Oakley Street Flats, Chelsea
1891 1450 Miss L. M. Bury - miniature
1892 1348 E. J. Barton, Esq. - miniature
         1351 Miss E. A. King - miniature
         1381 Muriel - miniature
1893 1235 'S. E. C.' - miniature
         1277 Mrs Gerald St John Mildmay - miniature
1894 1219 Alice Mary, daughter of Captain E. W. Hereford, R.N. - miniature
1895 1144 Rachel, daughter of John Holmes, Esq. - miniature

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Works by This Artist