Margaret Sarah Carpenter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Sarah Carpenter
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Self-portrait, c. 1817
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Margaret Sarah Geddes
1793 Salisbury, England
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| Died | 13 November 1872 (aged 78–79) London, England
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| Nationality | English |
| Known for | Portrait painting |
| Spouse(s) | William Hookham Carpenter |
Margaret Sarah Carpenter (born Geddes; 1793 – 13 November 1872) was a famous English painter. She was well-known during her time. Margaret mostly painted portraits, which are pictures of people. Her style was similar to another famous painter, Sir Thomas Lawrence. She was also a good friend of the artist Richard Parkes Bonington.
Contents
Early Life and Art Training
Margaret Carpenter was born in Salisbury, England, in 1793. Her father was Captain Alexander Geddes, and her mother was Harriet Easton.
She learned how to draw and paint from a local art teacher. Her first art studies involved looking at and copying paintings at Longford Castle. This castle belonged to the Earl of Radnor, a rich and important person.
Becoming a Famous Artist
Margaret's talent was noticed early on. In 1812, she won a medal from the Royal Society of Arts for a copy of a boy's head she painted. She won another medal in 1813 and a gold medal in 1814.
In 1814, she moved to London. There, she quickly became known as a popular portrait painter. She showed her work at important art exhibitions. For example, she displayed a portrait of Lord Folkestone at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1814. She continued to exhibit her paintings there regularly until 1866.
One of her paintings, The Lacemaker, was shown at a big art exhibition in Manchester in 1857. She also showed her art at other galleries, like the British Institution.
Famous Portraits and Recognition
In 1823, Margaret exhibited a painting called Head of a Polish Jew. Art critics were very impressed. One reviewer wrote that it was rare for a woman to create such a strong and colorful painting.
An important art collector, the Marquess of Stafford, bought this painting. He had also bought her medal-winning painting from 1813. This helped her become even more recognized.
Margaret painted many famous people. Some of her well-known portraits include:
- Sir H. Bunbury (1822)
- Lady Denbigh (1831)
- Lady King, who is better known as Ada Lovelace (1835)
Her last painting was a portrait of Dr. Whewell. Today, three of her paintings are in the National Portrait Gallery, London in London. These include portraits of her husband, her friend Bonington, and the sculptor John Gibson. Many of her portraits are also found in other important collections, like at Eton College and Tabley House.
Margaret's portraits were often seen as having a gentle and feminine touch, especially her paintings of children.
Her Family and Legacy
In 1817, Margaret married William Hookham Carpenter. He was in charge of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. They had two sons, William and Percy Carpenter, who also became painters.
Margaret also played a role in her sister Harriet's life. She introduced Harriet to a young painter named William Collins. They later married, which made Margaret the aunt of the famous novelist Wilkie Collins. Wilkie Collins was a close friend of Charles Dickens.
After her husband died in 1866, Queen Victoria gave Margaret an annual payment of £100. This was to honor her husband's work and also to recognize Margaret's own artistic skills.
Margaret Sarah Carpenter passed away in London on 13 November 1872, at the age of 79. She was buried next to her husband in Highgate Cemetery.
See also
- Sophie Gengembre Anderson
- Joanna Mary Boyce
- Emily Mary Osborn
- Rolinda Sharples
- Rebecca Solomon
- Elizabeth Emma Soyer
- Isabelle de Steiger
- Henrietta Ward
