Elizabeth Liddell

She was born on 22 February 1770.[2] She was the daughter of John Liddell (1735–1802) of Dockwray Square in North Shields and Jane Hubback (1736–1805). Her father is thought to have been a ship-owner, probably establishing the naval link to her future husband.[3] She married Robert Hodshon Cay, a noted Scottish judge, in 1789.[4]

She studied under Archibald Skirving, a fellow British artist. From him, she learned to paint pastels and portraits. She also had contact with Sir Henry Raeburn who is known to have painted both her husband Robert and her mother. William Bewick is also known to have painted her sister, Barbara.[1] In 1797 she is recorded as having an adult baptism at the Charlotte Chapel in Rose Street, Edinburgh (near Charlotte Square) indicating conversion to the Baptist Church.[3]

Following the death of her husband Robert in 1810, she continued to live in the family home (11 Heriot Row[5]) until death. Her son John Cay shared the house until around 1825, before moving to 5 South East Circus Place, slightly to the north.[6] She died in Edinburgh on 27 October 1831. She is buried in Restalrig Churchyard, just north of the church.[7]

While other works undoubtedly exist the only portraits of known named persons exist as a group at the James Clerk Maxwell Museum at 14 India Street in Edinburgh.

• Self-portrait
• John Cay (her son)
• Jane Cay (her daughter)
• Frances Cay (mother of James Clerk Maxwell)
• Robert Dundas Cay (her son)

Other more vague works include:

• Portrait of the blacksmith (bequeathed to her daughter Jane in her will)

Her box of art materials is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The box proves her pastel work was applied by cloth or brush rather than in stick form.

She married Robert Hodshon Cay of North Charlton in Edinburgh in 1789. They had nine children, including:

• John Cay
• Frances Hodshon Cay (wife of John Clerk-Maxwell of Middlebie and mother of James Clerk Maxwell)
• Robert Dundas Cay (lawyer to James Clerk Maxwell)