Lillie Sullivan

Lillie Sullivan (1855–1903) was an American scientific illustrator. At the time of her death, she was the best known illustrator on entomological subjects in the United States, and was for the last twenty years of her life employed in that capacity by the Federal Government in Washington, D.C.

Life

Origins

Lillie Sullivan was a daughter of Luther O. Sullivan and a sister of Frederick Sullivan, the New York artist, who was for some time employed on one of the local Washington papers.

Career

Sullivan was appointed an artist in the Bureau of Entomology of the Department of Agriculture by C. V. Riley, former Chief of the Bureau, in 1880, and held her position up to the time of her death. Sullivan became the best known illustrator of entomological subjects in the United States. She was an artist of some little ability before taking up the study of entomology, in order that she might perfect herself in her chosen line of work. She painted many pictures that were given places of honor in private residences in Washington, and was well known throughout that part of the country for the work she had done outside of her government office. As an illustrator of insects, however, her name became known throughout the world, and her drawings were regarded as models of the best type of such work. She was able to draw the insect, not only from the outward appearance of the model given her, but from the intimate knowledge she possessed of the anatomy of almost every species of insect. She was able to reproduce the bug or beetle as it should be. Her work, either with pen and ink or with colors, attracted attention throughout the United States, her illustrations appearing in almost every publication of the Department which related to entomology.