Sarah Goodridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sarah Goodridge
Self-portrait (1830)
Born	(1788-02-05)February 5, 1788 Templeton, Massachusetts, US
Died	December 28, 1853(1853-12-28) (aged 65) Boston, Massachusetts, US
Known for	Portrait miniature

Sarah Goodridge (born February 5, 1788 – died December 28, 1853) was an American artist. She was famous for painting very small, detailed pictures called portrait miniatures. These tiny portraits were often worn as jewelry or kept as keepsakes. Sarah was also the older sister of Elizabeth Goodridge, who was another talented miniature painter.

Who Was Sarah Goodridge?

Sarah Goodridge was a skilled American painter. She lived in the 1800s and became well-known for her tiny portraits. These special paintings were usually done on ivory. They were much smaller than regular paintings.

Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Sarah was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, in 1788. She was the sixth of many children. From a very young age, Sarah loved to draw. She showed a natural talent for art. Back then, it was hard for girls to get a good education. This was especially true where Sarah lived. So, she mostly taught herself how to paint.

Sarah went to the local school. She often drew pictures of people around her. She used birch bark because she could not afford paper. Later, she stayed with her brother, William M. Goodrich, in Milton, Massachusetts. She also got some drawing lessons in Boston. There, she met a famous artist named Gilbert Stuart. He was very interested in her artwork.

Becoming a Miniature Painter

In 1820, Sarah moved to Boston to live with her sister Eliza. She started taking more art lessons. She also began painting miniature portraits for money. Sarah earned enough from these paintings to support herself. She also helped her family for many years.

She became an expert at painting miniatures on ivory. She learned from another artist in Hartford. Her beautiful paintings were shown in Boston and Washington, D.C.. People admired her detailed work.

Famous Portraits and Later Years

Sarah Goodridge became very famous for her portraits. She painted important people like Daniel Webster. He was a well-known American politician. She also painted her friend, the artist Gilbert Stuart.

In 1851, Sarah's eyesight started to get bad. She decided to stop painting. She then moved to Reading, Massachusetts, to live out her retirement. Sarah Goodridge passed away in 1853.

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  Portrait of Daniel Webster, 1825

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  Portrait of Gilbert Stuart, 1825

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  The Studious Youth (master Edward Appleton)

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  Emily Appleton

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  Gilbert Stuart, miniature on a fob

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  Beulah Appleton and her cat