Susan Isabel Dacre (1844 - 1933)

Susan was an English artist amidst the Victorian age and active in the suffragette movement. Born in Leamington, she spent her childhood in Manchester but from age 14 to 27 lived primarily in Paris for schooling and then to work as a governess, spending a brief period in Italy. Whilst in Paris, on the encouragement of a friend, she began copying works in the Louvre and discovered she had a talent. On returning to England, she studied at the Manchester School of art, winning the Queen’s prize while she was there, and forming a strong bond and artistic alliance with fellow artist, Annie Swynnerton. She studied both in Rome and at the Académie Julian in Paris, and showed works at the Paris Salon. After a period in Paris and London, she returned to Manchester. In 1876 she founded the Manchester Society of Women Artists with Annie, campaigning on behalf of women painters. This eventually led to the acceptance of female members in the Manchester Academy of Fine Arts, of which she became a member.  In addition, she was on the committee of the Manchester National Society for Women’s Suffrage and in 1889 she added her name along with 96 other artists to the National Declaration in Favour of Women’s Suffrage petition. Alongside her campaigning work she exhibited at the New English Art Club and the Manchester City Art Gallery with her work now primarily held by MAG.