Story: English

'Phemie carrying the laundry'

'Phemie carrying the laundry'

A high proportion of 19th-century women immigrants from England were domestic servants, who came because of high wages and the prospect of marriage. This watercolour by Frances Hodgkins, painted about 1890, depicts the family maid, Euphemia or Phemie.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-425-q-020
Pencil and watercolour sketch by Frances Hodgkins

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Terry Hearn, 'English - A profile of English immigrants', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/1941/phemie-carrying-the-laundry (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by Terry Hearn, published 8 Feb 2005, updated 1 Mar 2015