Background
Praeger was born in Holywood, County Down, Ireland on 17 April 1867. Her father, immigrated to Belfast from Holland to work with his uncle in the family linen company, which was established in 1860.
Praeger was born in Holywood, County Down, Ireland on 17 April 1867. Her father, immigrated to Belfast from Holland to work with his uncle in the family linen company, which was established in 1860.
She attended Sullivan Upper School, the Belfast School of Art and the Slade School of Art in London. At the Belfast School of Art, Praeger studied under the painter George Trobridge, and became a member of the Rambler"s Sketching Club in 1886.
Her parents were Willem Emil Praeger and Marie Ferrar Patterson. Praeger had 5 brothers, the eldest of which was the naturalist Robert Lloyd Praeger. Praeger would later teach at this school.
In 1888, she enrolled in the Slade School, studying under Alphonse Legros.
From 1892 to 1893, Praeger travelled to Paris to study, having been encouraged to do so by Legros and Rope. Following her time in Paris, Praeger returned to Holywood and established a studio.
Having rented a number of studios in Belfast, in 1914 she built Street Brigid"s Studio on Hibernia Street, which she worked from until her death. Praeger completed her first large commission in 1907, a memorial to T. Hamilton for Queen"s University Belfast.
However she is best known for her sculptures, working primarily in plaster but also marble, terracotta and stone.
Her more well known pieces depict children in what is sometimes described as a sentimental style. Her sculptures include: "The Philosopher" (which was shown at the Royal Academy) is now in Colorado Springs, Colorado "Johnny The Jig" is in Holywood (between the maypole and the Priory) "Fionnuala the Daughter of Lir" is at the Causeway School, near Bushmills (1911-1917) Founders of Riddell Hall, Queen"s University (1926) Lord Edward Carson Memorial, Belfast Cathedral (1938) She was President of the then Ulster Academy (became the Royal Ulster Academy later).