Emma Soyer (1813 - 1842)

Emma Soyer

Emma Soyer, full name Elizabeth Emma Soyer, née Jones, is a British artist.

At a very early age, Emma showed a giftedness in music, but her potential in painting was even greater. She became a pupil of the Belgian painter François Simoneau (1783-1859), who recognized her talent and ability, and as a child she painted many portraits from life. Most often she sympathetically portrayed peasants and children in their daily lives. Thanks to her talent and fame as a child prodigy, the artist gained recognition and popularity, exhibiting her paintings in London and Paris. Emma became one of the youngest artists ever to exhibit at the Royal Academy: she was only 10 years old when her painting was accepted for display.

After her untimely death at the age of 28, Emma Soyer's works became even more popular. Today, her painting of two black girls holding a book is also widely recognized.