Portrait of a Lady (probably the wife of the artist)

A lady seated, reading a book within an artist’s studio with easel behind. She wears a cap of contemporary style and her left elbow rests upon a small table. The artist’s leg (from his 'Self-Portrait of the Artist in his Studio') is visible on the lower-left edge.

This portrait and 'Self-Portrait of the Artist in his Studio' originally formed a single composition. It is likely that Hayman was responsible for their separation since the self-portrait is finished whilst Portrait of a Lady is not. The sitter is believed to be Elizabeth Spurway, Hayman’s first wife. They married in 1734 and had a child the following year who died in infancy. Evidence suggests that Elizabeth may also have died young. The artist’s motivation for dividing his painting may have been bereavement rather than estrangement. This half of the work was discovered in the USA.

Purchased with assistance from the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Art Fund and the Friends of RAMM, 2007