An Artist Mother | With Lawrence Hendra | Fruit of Friendship: Portraits by Mary Beale

Assisted by her son Charles, this portrait offers an insight into the division of labour within Mary Beale’s (1633-1699) studio. Beale herself took on the complex elements of the composition, such as the face and background landscape, and directed her son to paint the drapery.

This portrait is currently on display at Philip Mould & Company as part of our exhibition Fruit of Friendship: Portraits by Mary Beale (25th April - 19th July 2024), and will soon be shown at Tate Britain's forthcoming exhibition Now You See Us: Women Artists in Britain 1520-1920.