Background
Letitia Bushe was born around 1705 or 1710 in Dangan, County Kilkenny. She was the daughter of Arthur Bushe, a secretary to the commissioners of revenue, and Mary (née Forth).
Letitia Bushe was born around 1705 or 1710 in Dangan, County Kilkenny. She was the daughter of Arthur Bushe, a secretary to the commissioners of revenue, and Mary (née Forth).
She may have been largely self-taught as her style remained naive throughout her career. She had a six year relationship with a younger woman Lady Anne Bligh, which some have speculated to have been a romantic one. When she was not acting as a companion she had rooms in Dawson Street.
Bushe died on the 17 November 1757 in those rooms.
She was buried the following day in Street Andrew"s church, Dublin. She stayed with Delany on numerous occasions, and a miniature of Bushe by Joseph Browne is included in the 1861 Correspondence of Mrs Delany edited by Lady Llanover.
Much of what is known about Bushe"s life is from the letters between her and Delany. Details included was the fact that Bushe contracted smallpox which marred her good looks, and her poverty after her father"s death is the reason she believed she did not receive any offers of marriage.
Bush and Delany remained very good friends, with Delany referring to Bushe drawing landscapes, and cleaning painting at Delany"s home Delville House.
Bushe and Delany embarked on a number of artist projects together. Delany described Bushe as "a gay, good-humoured, innocent girl, without the least conceit of her beauty.. she paints delightfully" and Delany painted Bushe herself.