Breton, Adela C., 1849-1923

Adela Breton, an English watercolor artist, was best known for her watercolor drawings of archaeological sites in Central America. From an early age, Adela's parents supported their daughter's education and artistic studies. Her father became fascinated by anthropology and geology and these fields soon captured Adela's interest as well. After her father's death in 1887, Adela explored and traveled to places of past cultures. Of all her contributions, her most valuable in archaeology was the recording of murals in Yucatan.

Adela became respected internationally as an archaeological copyist, researcher, and interpreter of the painted walls of ancient Mexico. Breton took thirteen excursions to archaeological sites in Yucatan between 1894 and 1908. She became a part of the Mayanist community, and was encouraged by archaeologist Alfred P. Maudsley to use her skills as a watercolorist to document deteriorating archaeological sites. Her illustrations of Chichén Itzá, Acancéh, and Teotihuacán provide evidence of original colors and the appearance of murals and other artwork. Breton also contributed work on Mayan languages and was a contributor to professional organizations, such as the International Congress of Americanists.

She died on June 15, 1923, in Barbados, when she fell ill during a trip to attend the International Congress of Americanists in Rio de Janeiro.