Biography of Sophie Gray 1843-1882
1856. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 26). "Autumn Leaves". Left to right: [her sister] Alice Gray (age 12) at Perth [Map]., Sophie Gray (age 12) and two local girls, Mathilda Proudfoot and Isabella Nicol who were said to be wards of an orphanage/industrial school in Perth, charitably recruited for these tasks by [her sister] Effie Gray Millais (age 27), apparently the original Sussex blind girl who was painted over. In the collection of Manchester Art Gallery.
Alice Gray: After 1843 she was born to George Gray and Sophia Margaret Jameson at Perth.
1857 to 1858. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 27). "Only a Lock of Hair". Model Sophie Gray (age 13).
1857. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 27). Portrait of Sophie Gray (age 13). Study for Autumn Leaves.
The Diary of George Price Boyce 1855-1857. 25 Nov 1857. Brought away Millais' head of his [her sister] wife's (age 29) sister [Sophie Gray (age 14)], paying £63 for it?
Note. The portrait referred to is likely to be Millais' "Study for Autumn Leaves".
1858. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 28). "Spring aka Apple Blossoms". Model far left Sophie Gray (age 14). In the collection of the Lady Lever Art Gallery [Map]. See The Life and Letters of Sir John Everett Millais pages 328-331.
In 1873 James Caird 1st Baronet (age 36) and Sophie Gray (age 29) were married.
In 1874 [her daughter] Beatrix Caird was born to [her husband] James Caird 1st Baronet (age 37) and Sophie Gray (age 30).
1880. John Everett Millais 1st Baronet (age 50). Portrait of Sophie Gray (age 36).
Before 1882. Charles Edward Perugini (age 42). Portrait of Sophie Gray (age 38).
On 15 Mar 1882 Sophie Gray (age 38) died possibly from anorexia.
In 1916 [her former husband] James Caird 1st Baronet (age 79) died.