Delvalle Elizabeth Rebecca Varley (née Lowry)
(1800-1860), Writer on mineralogy and geology; second wife of John VarleyRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 1 portrait
Born in London to the engraver Wilson Lowry and mineralogist lecturer, Rebekah Delvalle, Varley received a home education in science, which was denied to most women of her generation. She socialised in her parent's circle of artists and leading scientists, includingCharles Konig. In her Conversations on Mineralogy, published in 1822, she presented a conversation between two female students and their teacher. She and her father engraved plates for the book and she aimed to make the book accessible to a wide audience. It is unique for its time in avoiding theological interpretations of the subject. She published more books later in life, in part to support herself from the financial difficulties inherited through her husband John Varley.
Delvalle Elizabeth Rebecca Varley (née Lowry)
by Matilda Heming (née Lowry)
pencil and watercolour, 1830s
NPG 1651c
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