Sophia Campbell

Campbell, Sophia, nee Palmer (1777-1833)

Sophia Campbell nee Palmer was born and educated in London. She came to Sydney with her brother John and his family, a second brother Christopher and their sister Sarah on board the Porpoise in November 1800.

They settled at Wolloomooloo Farm. Within a year, on 17 September 1801, Sophia married the merchant Robert Campbell, a Scottish Presbyterian eight years her senior.

Sophia moved to Wharf House, Campbell’s home behind his wharves on the west side of Circular Quay. Apart from two trips to England (in 1805-06 and 1810-15) and shorter journeys to various parts of New South Wales, she lived in Sydney until her death.

Sophia Campbell, a highly gifted amateur artist, recorded daily life as seen from her house. She visited the Illawarra, Broken Bay and Newcastle and recorded the scenes she witnessed in watercolours and pencil sketches. Her watercolour of Newcastle shows Christ Church in 1818, as well as the washing on the line and the gardens of her neighbours.

Her detailed sketches of her surroundings in early Sydney and Newcastle can be viewed as typical examples of the art generally thought to be practised by colonial ladies. Art was an acceptable pastime pursued within a lifestyle perhaps offering limited diversions.

There are two surviving sketchbooks. One is still owned by Sophia’s descendants and held in private collection in Scotland. The other is owned by the National Library of Australia, Canberra. It was acquired around 1940 as part of the John Ferguson Collection which consists of over 34000 items. Sir John Ferguson had spent a lifetime collecting and describing library materials, with a particular concentration on Australiana.

Both of Sophia Campbell’s sketchbooks are filled with images dating from about 1816 to about 1820. She is thought to be the first woman known to have painted Australian scenes and people. Her sketches are entirely of public rather than private subjects. The watercolours of the Illawarra district are the earliest known views of the area then still outside of the boundaries of settlement.

Sophia Campbell died on 5th May 1833 and was buried in St John’s Cemetery, Parramatta.

References:

Clifford Amandus Burmester, National Library of Australia. Guide to the Collections, Volume 1. National Library of Australia, Canberra 1974

Joan Kerr, The Dictionary of Australian Artists, Painters, Sketchers, Photographers and Engravers to 1970. Oxford University Press Australia 1992

External links

Sophia Campbell's sketchbook held in Pictures Collection, National Library of Australia, Canberra [1]Enter Sophia Campbell as search term.