Sophia Elizabeth Steffanoni

Sophie (Sophia) Elizabeth Steffanoni (1873–1906) was an Australian born artist who produced works in the style of the Heidelberg School art movement, also known as Australian impressionism.

Life Sophie Elizabeth Steffanoni (1873–1906) was the daughter of Lewis Steffanoni, who was born in 1835 at Holborn, London. Lewis worked in the family business as an upholsterer and gold bullion embroidery artist before migrating to Australia. He arrived in Sydney on 9 November 1852.

In 1869, Lewis married Sarah Ann Reading (1844-1916) who was the niece of John Fairfax and formed a company with Sarah's mother Reading, Son & Steffanoni. In 1891 she won a prize for water-colour painting at the National Juvenile Industrial Exhibition and at the World's Columbian Exhibition in 1893, she won a medal for an embroidered Australian Coat of Arms in gold bullion.

From 1895 to 1903, Steffanoni's paintings appeared regularly in the annual exhibitions of the Royal Art Society of New South Wales. On a trip to Tasmania, she painted with Kate Cowle and produced the work The Sea-birds' Home, which was exhibited in the Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition, 1898.

In 1903, her oil works appeared in a two-page pictorial spread in The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser where they were singled out for being in good style and taste.

In the early 1900s, she suffered from ill-health and died at her home at 15 Riley Street, North Shore, Sydney on 1 November 1906.

Exhibited works A Ferry Boat, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 18th, 1888 A Glimpse of Kanimbula Valley, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 18th, 1888 A Rich Harvest, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 16th, 1895 Waning Day, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 16th, 1895 The Old Barn, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 16th, 1895 The Orchard Gate, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 16th, 1895 Sketch - Neutral Bay, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 16th, 1895 Beached, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 19th, 1898 Harvest Time - Thrashing, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 19th, 1898 Soft Murmurings of the Sea, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 19th, 1898 The Garden of Sleep, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 19th, 1898 The Sea-birds' Home, Tasmania, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 19th, 1898 Down the Gully, Bundanoon, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 20th, 1899 In Sweet September, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 20th, 1899 Crossing the Harbour, Royal Art Society of New South Wales Annual Exhibition. 21st, 1900