
Photo- Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum from:The Female Artist from Carleton Place That Never Went Viral
Annie Elexey Duff was born in Carleton Place in 1871. Her early life was spent at “Oreno Villa”, the family homestead at Duff’s Bay on the 11th Concession of Beckwith. The Duff family was the last family to have logging rights on the Mississippi. She studied painting and fashion design in New York City in the late 1890’s and spent time working there for Vogue Magazine.
This was a new thing I found—Unknown art she held a patent on. Canadian Patent Office Record, Volume 43, Issues 1-3

ANNIE E. DUFF-
Temptation, Sin and it’s Antidote, 1893, oil on canvas. 7’ x 11’, National Gallery of Canada
In 1893 Duff painted Temptation, Sin and it’s Antidote which she had hoped to showcase at the World’s Columbian Exhibition. However, the work did not arrive in time. The painting was re-named Adam and Eve by the National Gallery of Canada upon its purchase in 1976 CLICK
ADAM AND EVE National Gallery of Canada
1893
Category:
Artist
Title
Adam and Eve
Date
1893
Medium
Painting
Materials
oil on canvas
Dimensions
205 x 337 x 4.3 cm
Nationality
Canadian
Credit line
Purchased 1976
Accession number
18536

ANNIE E. DUFF —
Woman by the Sea, 1895, oil on canvas. 132.2 x 163.9 cm, National Gallery of Canada
In 1895, Duff painted Woman by the Sea, which was the first painting of maternity in Canada painted by a Canadian female artist, during a time in which female artists in Canada were not yet acknowledged for their contributions. The National Gallery of Canada purchased the work in 1976 in order to showcase Duff’s contribution to the art of Canada CLICK
WOMAN BY THE SEA — National Gallery
1895
Category:
Artist
Title
Woman by the Sea
Date
1895
Medium
Painting
Materials
oil on canvas
Dimensions
132.2 x 163.9 cm
Nationality
Canadian
Credit line
Purchased 1976
Accession number
18537
Lover’s Walk around Parliament Hill (about half way up the cliff from the River). Sketched by Annie Duff from Beckwith Township, who studied art at Ottawa’s Coligny College beginning in 1890.
Coligny Ladies College
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa JournalOttawa, Ontario, Canada07 Sep 1889, Sat • Page 1
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa JournalOttawa, Ontario, Canada05 Jan 1897, Tue • Page 3
The CP&BM says that: “After graduation Annie worked at Topley’s Photography Studio on Sparks Street, and later went to New York City where she worked as an illustrator for Vogue Magazine.
William James Topley (1845-1930) produced many of the historic images seen in these pages. For a time he operated the most successful photographic studio in Ottawa, documenting the architecture and social life of the city as it grew from a raw outpost into a suave little capital. In 1875 W.J. Topley broke away from Notman and opened his own establishment – in an extravagant combined studio and residence designed by King Arnoldi at the southeast corner of Metcalfe and Queen Streets. Read more here CLICK
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa JournalOttawa, Ontario, Canada20 Jun 1906, Wed • Page 4
Mr. Newby dressed as a “Court Jester.” He wore this same costume again for a skating carnival that took place in 1881. (Source: MIKAN 3477362) CLICK here for more Topley Photos

DetailSource
Name: | Annie E Duff |
---|---|
Gender: | Female |
Racial or Tribal Origin: | Scottish |
Nationality: | Canadian |
Marital Status: | Single |
Age: | 28 |
Birth Date: | 5 Feb 1873 |
Birth Place: | Ontario |
Residence Date: | 1901 |
Province: | Ontario |
Residence Place: | Canada |
Relation to Head of House: | Daughter |
Religion: | Presbyterian |
Occupation: | Painter |
Can Read: | Y |
Can Write: | Y |
Can Speak English: | Y |
Language: | English |
District: | Lanark (South/Sud) |
District Number: | 81 |
Sub-District: | Beckwith |
Sub-District Number: | 2 |
Dwelling Number: | 106 |
Family Number: | 106 |
Neighbours: | View others on page |
Household Members (Name)AgeRelationshipWilliam Duff68HeadElizabeth A. Duff63WifeAnnie E Duff28DaughterDenzoa Duff20DaughterAlexander Duff66Brother |
Intro | Canadian, 1873-1955; artist |
Was | Artist |
From | Canada |
Field | Arts |
Gender | Female |
Birth | 1873 |
Death | 1955 (aged 82 years) |
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa JournalOttawa, Ontario, Canada09 May 1955, Mon • Page 28
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa CitizenOttawa, Ontario, Canada25 Oct 1918, Fri • Page 5
A question to you and your followers is anybody know the names and possible location of this picture.
It says McNeely family, Denyson Duff- Verne Anne Elexy Duff- Bill Jim (or something like that.)
Lynda McNeely Fitzpatrick
The above picture is one of my family. My Great Grandfather , Great Grandmother, Great Aunts, Great Uncle and Grandfather. They are standing in front of their home on Moffat Street, Carleton Place. I spent many a summer with my Great Aunt Lex. I have meet all the above except for Uncle Bill and the Great Grand parents
Jennifer Fenwick Irwin said: “I have to look it up but one of Annie’s sisters married a McNeely and named her children after her sisters, so there was another generation with names like Denysa and Elexey. In fact, Denysa jr. was in here last winter donating stuff and just passed away.
CLIPPED FROMThe Ottawa CitizenOttawa, Ontario, Canada29 May 1950, Mon • Page 10
The Female Artist from Carleton Place That Never Went Viral
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Hay Look Me Over! Big Bill Duff
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