Miss Nelia Casella

Other names: Louisa Cornelia

Born 23 July 1859
Died 29 April 1950

Active: 1882 - 1929

Country of birth and death: England

Sculptor, wax modeller, medallist, illustrator, enamellist

Born in London, and baptised at St. Matthew, Bayswater on 1 September 1859. She was the daughter of Alexander Casella, a merchant (c.1829-1910, born in France) and of Marie Casella (born c.1833 in Switzerland). Alexander amassed a significant art collection some, or all, of which was sold as 'Objects of Art, chiefly of the 16th and 17th centuries' at Christie's auction house on 9th and 10th February 1911.

Nelia and her sister, Ella, studied at the Slade School of Art in the early 1880s under Alphonse Legros. Legros encouraged his students to design medals and Nelia and Ella were among a number of his female students to begin working in this format c.1882. Over the next few decades they created many pieces collaboratively and so are often referred to as the 'Misses Casella' or 'Casella sisters'. However they also continued to work separately. Their medallic commissions included: a portrait of Dr. Charcot, c.1890; the seal of the University of Wales (designed by the painter Edward Burne-Jones), c.1894; and the Royal Astronomical Society Hannah Jackson-Gwilt medal, 1896.

Whilst at the Slade, Nelia and Ella were also studying the art of modelling in wax. They adopted this technique in making medals also creating wax reliefs and miniatures. The sisters were highly skilled at colouring the wax and creating inventive textures which quickly brought them critical attention. A review of the 1885 Royal Academy exhibition in 'The Times' remarked: '...some very clever medallions in coloured wax by the Misses Casella who are thus attempting to revive an art of the Renaissance.'

In addition to making wax reliefs and medals, the sisters contributed illustration to 'Dreams, Dances and Disappointments' (1881) and 'The Maypole' (1882) by Gertrude A. Konstam. Nelia and Ella belonged to a lively literary and theatrical circle that included Ellen Terry. The sisters most active period was between 1884-1910, however Nelia continued to work into the 1920s. She died at 1 Queen's Elm Square, Chelsea, London, the home she had shared with her late sister, Ella.

Wealth at death: £11,729 17s. 7d.
Probate date: 23 June 1950

Citing this record

'Miss Nelia Casella', 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=msib5_1208550248, accessed 30 May 2023]