[2] She was educated by her mother and from a young age showed literary ability, contributing to the press both in prose and verse.

[3] She had a letter of introduction to Sir James Clark, through whom she met John Ruskin who showed much interest in her work.

[1] In 1862, Ironside was represented in the New South Wales court of the London Great Exhibition, and her two pictures received good reviews from the critics.

Adams praised them highly, and suggested that room might be found in the Melbourne gallery by taking out three by George Folingsby, and putting Miss Ironside's pictures in their place.

The Marriage at Cana of Galilee was presented to the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 1992 by the Warden and Fellows of the college.