Elizabeth Creed facts for kids

Elizabeth Creed (born Pickering; 1642–1728) was a talented English artist and a kind person who helped others. She lived a long life, using her skills in painting and needlework to decorate churches and teach young girls. She was also related to some famous people of her time!

Elizabeth Creed: Artist and Helper

Her Family and Connections

Elizabeth Creed was born in 1642. Her father was Sir Gilbert Pickering, a Baronet. Her mother was Elizabeth Montagu. Elizabeth's family had many interesting connections.

She was a cousin of John Dryden, a very famous poet. She was also a second cousin of Samuel Pepys, who wrote a famous diary about life in London. These connections show she grew up in an important family.

A Life of Art and Giving

In 1668, Elizabeth married John Creed. He was from Oundle in Northamptonshire. They had eleven children together.

After her husband passed away in 1701, Elizabeth focused on her passions. She became an amateur painter, meaning she painted for enjoyment and not as a main job. She also kindly taught young girls how to do fine needlework and other useful skills.

Elizabeth used her artistic talents to help her community. She decorated many churches near Oundle with beautiful altarpieces and other art. These were made by her own hardworking and devoted hands. You can still see some of her monuments today at Barnwell and St Mary's Church in Titchmarsh.

Her Artistic Legacy

In 1708, another cousin, Edward Dryden, inherited a large estate called Canons Ashby. Elizabeth was asked to paint a special room there, which was known as the Painted Parlour. She also created a piece for the Great Hall and a set of "dummy boards." Dummy boards were painted wooden figures that looked like real people or objects.

Elizabeth Creed also painted many portraits. One portrait of the first Earl of Sandwich was kept at Drayton. Her own family members also owned many portraits and other pictures she had painted. Elizabeth Creed passed away in May 1728.

What Others Said About Her

Samuel Pepys, her second cousin, admired Elizabeth very much. He described her as "very well-bred and comely." This means she was polite, well-mannered, and attractive. Even though he wasn't very fond of her husband, Pepys clearly thought highly of Elizabeth herself.