William HogarthMrs Salter 1741

When the National Gallery acquired this portrait in 1898 the true identity of the sitter had long been forgotten. Instead, because the subject's facial features bear a slight resemblance to Hogarth himself, the portrait was identified as the artist's sister, Ann. It was not until 1933 that a hitherto unnoticed inscription, 'Mrs Salter', in the bottom centre of the feigned stone surround revealed the true identity of the woman. The inscription suggested that the portrait was very probably the picture which had belonged to the author and engraver, Samuel Ireland (d. 1800), and which was described in an auction catalogue of 1801 as 'Mrs Salter of the Charterhouse, not engraved'… (read more)