Sarah Biffen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Biffen
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Sarah Biffen's self-portrait, 1830
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| Born | 1784 East Quantoxhead, Somerset, England
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| Died | (aged 66) Liverpool, England
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| Resting place | St James Cemetery, Liverpool |
| Other names | Sarah Biffin; Sarah Beffin; Mrs E. M. Wright |
| Known for | Painting |
| Style | Mouth and foot painting |
| Spouse(s) | William Stephen Wright (m. 1824) |
| Patron(s) | George Douglas, the Earl of Morton |
Sarah Biffen (born 1784, died 1850) was an amazing English painter. She was born without arms and with very small legs. Even with these challenges, she learned to read, write, and paint using her mouth!
Sarah became famous for her unique talent. She painted beautiful pictures, especially tiny portraits. Even the Royal Family asked her to paint for them. Her life shows how much you can achieve with determination.
Contents
Early Life and Amazing Talent
Sarah Biffen was born in 1784 in a farming family in East Quantoxhead, Somerset. She had a condition called phocomelia, which meant she was born without arms and with undeveloped legs.
Despite this, Sarah learned to read. She also learned to write and paint by holding the brush in her mouth. Her skill was truly remarkable.
When she was about 13, her family arranged for her to work with a man named Emmanuel Dukes. He showed her off at fairs and sideshows across England. People paid to watch her sew, draw, and paint. She sold her paintings and autographs.
Sarah painted landscapes and tiny portrait miniatures on ivory. People at the time were very impressed by her talent.
Becoming a Famous Artist
In 1808, at the St. Bartholomew's Fair, a very important person noticed Sarah. This was George Douglas, the Earl of Morton. He wanted to see if she truly painted all by herself.
Once he saw her talent, the Earl of Morton decided to help her. He arranged for her to take lessons from a famous painter named William Craig. Craig was a painter from the Royal Academy of Arts.
Sarah's art became even better. In 1821, the Society of Arts gave her a medal for one of her small historical paintings. The Royal Academy also accepted her artwork.
Her fame grew, and the Royal Family asked her to paint their miniature portraits. She became very popular and opened her own art studio in Bond Street, London. Even the famous writer Charles Dickens mentioned her in some of his books!
Later Life and Challenges
Sadly, the Earl of Morton, who had helped Sarah so much, passed away in 1827. Without his support, Sarah faced money problems. Her manager also used most of her earnings.
But Sarah had strong supporters. Queen Victoria helped her by giving her a special payment called a Civil List pension. This allowed Sarah to live a quiet life in Liverpool.
On September 6, 1824, Sarah married William Stephen Wright. She tried to restart her career using her married name, Mrs. Wright, but it wasn't as successful. Still, her friends and supporters, like Richard Rathbone, raised money to help her in her final years.
Her Final Years
Sarah Biffen passed away on October 2, 1850, when she was 66 years old. She was buried in St James Cemetery in Liverpool.
Her Lasting Impact
Sarah Biffen's self-portrait, which was made into an engraving in 1821, was sold for a very high price at an auction in 2019. This shows how much her art is still valued today.
In 2022, a special art show called Without Hands: the Art of Sarah Biffin was held in London. It was the first time her work had been shown in 100 years! Sarah Biffen's story continues to inspire people with her incredible talent and determination.
See also
- John Carter (mouth artist) (1815–1850), another artist who painted with his mouth.
- Mouth and foot painting
