Lydia Shackleton

Lydia Shackleton (22 November 1828 – 10 November 1914) was an Irish botanical artist, teacher, and poet. Shackleton was the first artist-in-residence at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Dublin.

Early life and education Shackleton was born on 22 November 1828 at Griesemount House in Ballitore, County Kildare to George Shackleton (1785–1871), a miller, and Hannah Shackleton (; 1803–1873).

Her earliest surviving works are pencil drawings of Grisemount and Ballitore, dated 15 November 1848.

Artist-in-residence Shackleton painted for 23 years for the Royal Botanic Gardens in Dublin (now the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland), starting in 1884. She and a fellow Quaker named Alice Jacob were both artists-in-residence, though she was the first in that position. Her portrayals at the Botanic Gardens include a significant number of examples of Helleborus, Paeonia, and Sarracenia.

She also painted about 100 Irish native wild species for the Science and Art Museum, Dublin (now the National Museum of Ireland). These paintings are also part of her work at the National Botanic Gardens. This collection is thought to be the largest of her work.

Shackleton was forced to stop painting in 1907 as her sight deteriorated, affecting her ability to execute the fine detail in her work. Her medical condition may have been caused by the exacting nature of her work. She died completely blind, and a spinster, on 10 November 1914 at her home in Rathgar, Dublin. She was buried at the Friends Burial Ground, in Blackrock, Dublin.

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