This portrait of prolific Australian-born novelist Rosa Campbell Praed (nee Murray-Prior) is attributed to Emily Praed, presumably a family member. Rosa grew up on pastoral properties in southern Queensland in the 1850s without a formal education. In 1876, following the failure of her husband’s cattle station on isolated Curtis Island (near Gladstone), she moved to England. After separating from her husband in 1897, Rosa lived with psychic medium Nancy Hayward.

Many of Praed’s 45 books drew on her early life experiences. A devoted spiritualist, she wove into her novels many of her experiences during seances.