Background
She was born in Bath, England in 1842, one of four daughters of the Swedish-born artist Anthony Rubens Montalba and Emeline (née Davies).
She was born in Bath, England in 1842, one of four daughters of the Swedish-born artist Anthony Rubens Montalba and Emeline (née Davies).
The 1871 British census shows Anthony Montalba living at 19 Arundel Gardens, Notting Hill, London, with four daughters, all artists. The Montalba sisters were regular contributors to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition during the 1870s. Ellen studied at the South Kensington Schools, which later became the Royal College of Art, and in Europe, being based in Venice along with her family.
She painted a number of portraits and landscape paintings.