Margaret Sarah Carpenter 1793 – 1872
(née Geddes)
Portrait artist and genre painter.
1 February 1793 – 13 November 1872
Education
Mostly self-taught.
1815 Became a pupil of Sir Thomas Lawrence, portrait painter and President of the Royal Academy.
Some Key Achievements and Interests
1812-1814 Awarded three medals by the Society of Arts.
1814 Started exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy (a total of 156 between 1814 and 1866) and at the British Institution.
Painted commissions earning a reputation for her portraits of women and children.
1867 Sold prints to the British Museum.
Issues
Had eight children three of whom died. Took her domestic responsibilities seriously and put them before her art. After her marriage her output decreased significantly.
Exhibited at the Royal Academy but was never elected to membership. (Annie Swynnerton became the first woman to be elected to the RA in 1922. Previously, Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffmann had been invited to become members but were not elected and could not enjoy full member rights.)
Was recognised and admired during her life with work acquired by public collections but has subsequently been neglected.
Bloomsbury Connection
1852-66 Lived at the British Museum where her husband was Keeper of Prints and Drawings. Here she worked in her portrait studio.
Works include:
1817 Self-portrait.
Mary, Lady Haddo.
1830 The Gleaner.
1836 Ada King (1815–1852), Countess of Lovelace, Mathematician, Daughter of Lord Byron 1836 by Margaret Sarah Carpener; Margaret Sarah Carpenter, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
1839 The Sisters.
1852 Self-portrait.
see: Art UK | Discover Artworks
Further reading:
Margaret Sarah Carpenter: a forgotten talent | Art UK
Margaret Sarah Carpenter, transcript of list of paintings 1812-1866 – Archives Hub (jisc.ac.uk)