Summary
In 1681, a year in which a great deal is known about Mary Beale due to the survival of her husband's notebook (Heinz Archive, National Portrait Gallery), it is recorded that she undertook several paintings for the purpose of 'study & improvement'. This portrait study is very possibly an example of such a work.
In the notebook, really an annotated almanac, Charles Beale (1631-1705) lists his wife's activities for each day, detailing her commissioned portraits as well as the experimental studies. For the latter, he identifies the sitters and, in most cases, their poses and tracks the progress of each work from one sitting to the next, paying particular attention if a novel technique had been used. It becomes clear that Mary Beale's purpose in carrying out the studies, as well as to develop her skill, was to test out, in conjunction with her husband, various painting methods… (read more)
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