Artist. Famed as a portrait painter, she is regarded as Great Britain's first professional female artist. Born Mary Cradock in Suffolk, she was one of the very few women artists working in England during the seventeenth century. Her mother died when she was young; her father, who knew the artist Robert Walker, introduced her to painting. In 1652 she married Charles Beale, who was an amateur painter. Around 1654 they were in London, where she embarked on a semi-professional career as a portrait painter. In 1670 she established a studio in Pall Mall and became friends with Sir Peter Lely, who was court painter to King Charles II. Her husband was her assistant, mixing paint and keeping the notebooks containing details of her accounts and sittings. Following Lely's death in 1680, his style of portraiture became outmoded and work was scarce to come by. Mary Beale worked until her death at the age of sixty-six. Her tomb was destroyed by World War II air raids but a plaque was erected within the church.
Artist. Famed as a portrait painter, she is regarded as Great Britain's first professional female artist. Born Mary Cradock in Suffolk, she was one of the very few women artists working in England during the seventeenth century. Her mother died when she was young; her father, who knew the artist Robert Walker, introduced her to painting. In 1652 she married Charles Beale, who was an amateur painter. Around 1654 they were in London, where she embarked on a semi-professional career as a portrait painter. In 1670 she established a studio in Pall Mall and became friends with Sir Peter Lely, who was court painter to King Charles II. Her husband was her assistant, mixing paint and keeping the notebooks containing details of her accounts and sittings. Following Lely's death in 1680, his style of portraiture became outmoded and work was scarce to come by. Mary Beale worked until her death at the age of sixty-six. Her tomb was destroyed by World War II air raids but a plaque was erected within the church.
Bio by: Kieran Smith
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