Portrait of a Lady (probably the wife of the artist )

This portrait and the self portrait of the artist in his studio (5/1963/7) originally formed a single composition. It is likely that Hayman was responsible for their separation since the self-portrait is finished whilst Portrait of a Lady is not. The sitter is believed to be Elizabeth Spurway, Hayman’s first wife. They married in 1734 and had a child the following year who died in infancy. Evidence suggests that Elizabeth may also have died young. The artist’s motivation for dividing his painting may have been bereavement rather than estrangement. This half of the work was discovered in the USA.

Purchased with assistance from the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Art Fund and the Friends of RAMM, 2007

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
241/2007
Category
Fine Art
Collection Class
Paintings
Medium
oil on canvas
Common Name
Portrait of a Lady (probably the wife of the artist )
Simple Name
painting
Period Classification
George II (1727-1760)
Production Town
London
Production Country
United Kingdom: England
Production Date
c 1734
Production Person Initials
Francis
Production Person Surname
Hayman
Production Year Low
1734
Production Year High
1735

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Portrait of a Lady (probably the wife of the artist )