Miss Eleanor T. Rowe

Born 21 December 1852
Died 3 January 1920

Active: 1879 - 1911

Country of birth and death: England

Wood carver, manager of art school, author

Born in Hampstead, London. She was the daughter of Richard Rowe (born c.1798 in Exeter, Devon), East India (Tea) Merchant.

Rowe trained under Anton Bulletti at the School of Art Wood Carving (founded in 1879), and was considered his most talented pupil. In 1881 she was appointed manager of the School, and also worked as an assistant teacher. After Bulletti left the School in 1882, Rowe focused on her position as manager, which she retained until 1902. Her older brother, Alfred (born c.1848) also worked as a wood carver based on his occupation given in the 1901 Census.

During her career, Rowe was widely cited as an authority on wood carving, and she published a number of books on the subject. Most of these went through multiple editions and some remained in print long after her death. The books included 'Hints on wood-carving for beginners' (1886), 'Studies from the Museums: Wood carvings from the South Kensington Museum' (1889), 'Hints on Chip-Carving, Class Teaching and other Northern styles ... With a preface by T. R. Ablett' (1892), 'French Wood Carvings From the National Museums: Printed in Collotype' (1896), 'Practical Wood-Carving: a book for the student, carver, teacher, designer, and architect' (1907).

She was a great friend of Thomas Armstrong (1832-1911) who was a painter, and director of the art division at the Department of Science and Art between 1881 and 1898. Armstrong was a member (1880-1902), and then Chair (1902-11), of the Council at the School of Art Wood Carving. After his death in 1911, Rowe collected 'the official record' of his life, which L.M. Lamont used to write 'Thomas Armstrong C.B.: a Memoir' (1912).

She died in Kensington and her brother, George William Rowe, a solicitor was named in the probate records.

Wealth at death: £2,938 2s. 1d.
Probate date: 26 March 1920

Citing this record

'Miss Eleanor T. Rowe', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib2_1209076686, accessed 30 Mar 2023]