Cassandra Austen Paintings

Cassandra Austen was not an artist in the conventional sense, but she is historically significant primarily for being the elder sister of the renowned English novelist Jane Austen. Born on January 9, 1773, in Steventon, Hampshire, England, to the Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Leigh Austen, she was one of eight children. Although Cassandra did not achieve fame as an artist, she was known to have been a skilled amateur at watercolor painting.

Cassandra and Jane were very close throughout their lives, sharing a deep bond of sisterhood that is evident from their surviving letters and Jane's writings. Cassandra is often mentioned in biographical accounts of Jane Austen's life due to their strong relationship and Cassandra's role in preserving Jane's legacy after her death. Following Jane's death in 1817, Cassandra was instrumental in saving and organizing her sister's manuscripts and letters.

Despite being engaged to Tom Fowle in 1792, Cassandra never married. Fowle died of yellow fever in the West Indies before they could wed, and Cassandra remained single for the rest of her life, dedicating her time to her family and the memory of her sister. After the death of their father, Cassandra and her mother moved several times, ultimately settling in Chawton, in a cottage provided by their brother Edward. It was in this cottage that Jane Austen wrote or revised her most famous novels.

Cassandra Austen lived until the age of 72, passing away on March 22, 1845. Her life is often overshadowed by the literary achievements of her sister, but she remains an important figure for her role in supporting Jane Austen's work and for her own modest contributions to the arts. Her watercolor portraits, especially those of her sister Jane, are valued for their historical and sentimental significance rather than for their artistic merit.