Dorothy Seton
Nationality: Irish
Date of birth: possibly ca 1879
Place of birth: possibly Dublin
Category: model
Identity:
'Dorothy Seton' was an artist's model.
She modelled for Whistler around 1900/1903 for Dorothy Seton y551 and Dorothy Seton - A Daughter of Eve y552.
Life:
She may have been the 'Dora. Seton' recorded in the 1901 UK census as an artist and sculptor, aged 22, born in Dublin, and living at 59 Park Road, Battersea. In the census form there is a full-stop after the first name; 'Dora.' could stand for Dorathea, Dorothea or Dorothy.
An alternative biography is proposed in Europeana. According to Europeana, Dorothy Seton was the daughter of the composer, organist and teacher, Professor Richard Harvey and his wife Elizabeth Hyde Parker Lawrence. She was an Irish model, who may have practised as a high-class prostitute.
Bibliography:
Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer, and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980 .
Europeana Website.
