BLACKETT, Isabel M.

Born New Zealand, daughter of John Blackett, engineer, who settled in Taranaki 1851, but moved to Nelson 1859 when he was appointed Provincial Engineer there. The Blacketts were friends of the J. C. Richmonds in Taranaki and Nelson—Isabel Blackett was friend of the painter Dorothy Kate Richmond from childhood. After Blackett became Engineer-in-Chief for New Zealand and moved to Wellington, Isabel used to visit ‘Dolla’ Richmond. In 1889 her work was shown in Nelson in an exhibition arranged by Miss Morgan, then art teacher at Nelson Girls' College. Exhibited with Fine Arts Assoc Wtn. 1883–84; NZ Academy of Fine Arts Wtn. In 1953 she was living in Wellington.