Margaret Thomas (1842 - 1929)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

Margaret Thomas was an English-born Australian Sculptor, painter, and art writer. Thomas was born at Croydon, Surrey, England. She went with her parents to Melbourne, Australia in 1852 where she was taught by the sculptor Charles Summers (1825-1878).

Returning to London, she entered the Royal Academy Schools on 17 July 1871, where she had the distinction of being the first woman awarded a silver medal for modelling at the academy schools.

Between 1868 and 1877 Thomas exhibited her paintings (mostly portraits) at the Royal Academy.

Her date of birth is often cited incorrectly as 1843 and she was herself inconsistent about both her age and date of birth. It has also been discovered that she was originally named Margaret Cook and only later changed her surname to her father’s first name. Studied under Charles Summers.

Published ‘A hero of the workshop and a Somersetshire worthy, Charles Summers, sculptor; the story of his struggles & triumph’ (London: Hamilton, Adams, 1879?)

Source: Australian Dictionary of National Biography