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In conjunction with the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery, The Weiss Gallery is proud to present a special display of an unrecorded oil study by Mary Beale, who is renowned today for being one of the first professional women artists in British history.
Reversing the traditional roles of man as artist and woman as muse, Mary here portrays her most important supporter, her beloved husband and father of her children - Charles Beale - via tender, painterly passages that demonstrably rank her equally amongst her better-known male contemporaries.
Our spotlight exhibition is part of the NPG's Portrait Mode initiative, and we would encourage those interested to explore their webpage (click here).
Should you be able, we very much hope you will visit the gallery to view this painting in person. If this is not possible, we have designed the following viewing room to enjoy from afar.
Should you have any queries, please contact us via
Telephone: +44(0)207 409 0035
Email: info@weissgallery.com
Instagram: @weissgallery
We look forward to hearing from you
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'An oil study of Charles Beale (1632 - 1705), the artist's husband'
Oil on canvas: 11 ½ x 10 1/8 in. (29 x 25.7 cm.)
Painted circa 1660WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL TO TABITHA BARBER, CURATOR OF BRITISH ART AT TATE BRITAIN AND AUTHORITY ON THE WORK OF MARY BEALE, AND DR HELEN DRAPER, AUTHOR OF THE UPCOMING MONOGRAPH ON THE ARTIST, WHO HAVE BOTH ENDORSED OUR ATTRIBUTION AND IDENTITY OF THE SITTER. -
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From Barrow, Suffolk to Covent Garden, London
Mary Beale (née Cradock) was born at Barrow rectory, Suffolk, and baptised on 26 March 1633. She was the eldest child of the Reverend John Cradock (c.1595 - 1652), the rector of Barrow, and his wife Dorothy Brunton or Brinton (d.1643).
Having early exposure to professional artists through her father’s puritanical connections in Suffolk - such as the parliamentarian portraitist Robert Walker (1599 – 1658) who lived in Bury St Edmunds and likely provided rudimentary lessons to Craddock - she was probably taught the principles of painting by her father, who was an enthusiastic amateur painter and a member of the Painter Stainers’ Company in London.
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THE BEALES
Mary & Charles -
MARY BEALE (1633 – 1699)SELF-PORTRAIT WITH HER HUSBAND AND SONOIL ON CANVAS: 60.2 X 74 CM.PAINTED C.1663 - 64© MUSEUM OF THE HOME, LONDON.
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Mary Beale and Sir Peter Lely
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Praise for Mary Beale
Contemporary & Historic Testimonials"…among the reasons for the almost total eclipse of her reputation in subsequent centuries must be counted the male chauvinism of cataloguers and writers on art who invariably attributed her best pictures to other, male, painters."
In life and death, she has been highly praised: Sir Peter Lely apparently commented that she 'worked with a wonderful body of colour, and was exceedingly industrious', whilst one of her first biographers, Ellen C. Clayton, said of her in 1876 that "the most eminent personages respected Mrs. Beale as a talented artist, an irreproachable wife, and excellent mother."
George Vertue even wrote that Beale 'was little inferior to any of her contemporaries, either for Colour, Strength, Force or Life.'As the curator of the first exhibition dedicated to Mary Beale's life and work, held in 1975, states: "…among the reasons for the almost total eclipse of her reputation in subsequent centuries must be counted the male chauvinism of cataloguers and writers on art who invariably attributed her best pictures to other, male, painters." -
Further reading & viewing
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Dulwich Picture Gallery
'Mary Beale: Experimental Secrets' 12 April - 3 September 2023Further informationMary Beale: Experimental Secrets will shed new light on the work of 17th century painter, Mary Beale (1633-1699). Featuring brand new research, the display will reveal Beale to be a technically innovative painter and uncover exciting new details about her workshop practice and life in her ‘painting room’.
Experimental Secrets is part of Unlocking Paintings – an ambitious series of displays which presents new perspectives on the Gallery’s renowned collection of historic masterpieces.
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Penelope Hunting
'My Dearest Heart: The Artist Mary Beale (1633-1699)'To purchaseMary Beale (1633-1699) was one of the earliest professional women artists in Britain. Her successful career was documented by her husband, Charles, whose almanacks provide a unique record of Mary's patrons, painting technique and family affairs. Her portraits of politicians, clergy, aristocracy and intellectuals reflect the vibrant literary, scientific and political scene of the seventeenth century. She has been seen as a feminist icon not only as a professional artist but also as a poet and the author of a 'Discourse on Friendship' (1667) which argued for the equality of husband and wife in marriage - a radical concept at that time.
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Geffrye Museum
'The Excellent Mrs Mary Beale' 13 October-21 December, 1975To purchaseCatalogue by Elizabeth Walsh and Richard Jeffree with introduction by Sir Oliver Millar, KCVO and special contributions by Dr Margaret Toynbee and Richard Sword.
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Contact us
EMAIL:
INFO@WEISSGALLERY.COM
PHONE:
+44(0)207 409 0035
INSTAGRAM:
@WEISSGALLERY
My Dearest Heart: AN OIL STUDY BY ONE OF BRITAIN'S FIRST PROFESSIONAL FEMALE ARTISTS, MARY BEALE (1633 - 1699), DEPICTING HER HUSBAND CHARLES (1632 - 1705)
Past viewing_room