New blue plaque of significant Restoration feminist artist unveiled in Allbrook
A pioneering female portrait artist, who lived in the Eastleigh village of Allbrook, has been commemorated by the National Blue Plaque Scheme, awarded by Historic England at a recent unveiling event.
The plaque was unveiled to mark the former residence of Seventeenth Century painter Mary Beale who lived at Allbrook Farmhouse for six years from 1665.
Nominated for the national blue plaque by Eastleigh Borough Council, Mary Beale (b.1633) now stands as Historic England’s earliest recipient of a national blue plaque.
Recognition of Beale’s work has seen a revival in recent years, with her work exhibited at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Tate Britain, and Philip Mould Gallery.
It puts Eastleigh on the map of the national culture landscape, with Allbrook House taking its place alongside ex homes of famous contributors to the UK identity, such as George Harrison, Cary Grant, Clarice Cliff and others.
The inspirational Mary Beale worked as a portrait painter from the Restoration Period (aft.1660), during the reign of King Charles II, to her death in 1699. She was thought to be self-taught and broke ground as one of the first British female artists to support her household with her artist income.
Unlike many of her male contemporaries, she succeeded without financial support from a wealthy patron. She also trained other women in painting, and she is sometimes cited as the first woman to have written an instructional text for painting in English.
This professional artist established a reputation for society and clerical portraits of a standard equal to her more famous, exclusively male, contemporaries. Portraitists of her time didn’t always sign their paintings and through the centuries her best work was attributed to male artists and poorer personal works to herself. Her first solo exhibition came only in 1975 as a result as experts continue to discover more of her paintings, correcting historical misattributions.
The Beales moved to the Eastleigh area in 1665, in part to avoid the Great Plague in London, buying and living in Allbrook Farmhouse for six years. It was thought Mary refined her techniques over this time, during a time women were largely excluded from artistic training. She had already grown her reputation in the capital, and was featured, together with three other female painters, in Sir William Sanderson's book 'Graphice…or, The most Excellent Art of Painting' of 1658.
Mary was also a writer, composing the 'Essay on Friendship' at Allbrook House. It put forward the radical idea of equality between men and women, both in friendship and marriage. One of the friends who visited the Beales at Allbrook was Izaak Walton, author of The Compleat Angler. The family then returned to Pall Mall, London.
When Mary, her husband Charles and two sons, returned to London it was decided that Mary would establish herself as a professional artist and a studio was set up in their rented house in Pall Mall where she lived until her death in 1699.
Starting out as a farmhouse in 1659, the Grade II listed building, became one of very few surviving studios of an artist from the pre-Georgian period. Canvas-drying racks found in the dining room by occupants in the 1950s helped confirm studio use for the home.
Philip Mould, art expert and broadcaster, said: “Set aside, for a moment, Mary Beale’s near singularity as a woman artist in a male-dominated profession. What is most striking is the sheer industry of her portrait practice. Academics, divines, and a wide swathe of the professional middle classes and gentry were captured by her brush through a dynamic family enterprise, with Beale at its centre, her husband working behind the scenes, and her two sons helping to complete compositions. She did for this stratum of society what Sir Peter Lely did for the aristocracy.”
The Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Tonia Craig, said: “We’re proud as a council to have submitted the national blue plaque nomination for Allbrook Farmhouse to celebrate the life and achievements of seventeenth century resident Mary Beale. We extend great thanks to Historic England for recognising the portrait painter’s endeavours as an artist, writer and modern thinker regarding gender roles. Previously hidden, but not to be forgotten - our residents will be proud of such a strong determined local woman and hope it inspires local interest in arts heritage and for future artistic talent! ”
Baroness Twycross, Heritage Minister, said: “It is fitting that a pioneering woman has become the first ever seventeenth century figure to be honoured with a national blue plaque. Almost 400 years ago, Mary Beale proved that pure artistic skill could overcome the barriers that made becoming a professional so much more difficult because of her gender. Mary perfectly represents how talent is everywhere and reminds us of the importance of nurturing those skills in all who possess them. This plaque will be a powerful inspiration to women and girls today.”
Claudia Kenyatta and Emma Squire, co-CEOs of Historic England, said: “Mary Beale was ahead of her time. Through talent, resilience and determination, she forged a successful career in a world that offered women few opportunities, establishing herself as one of the first professional women artists in England. Her remarkable body of work and influence continue to resonate today. Through the National Blue Plaque Scheme, we are proud to honour pioneers like Beale, whose achievements helped open doors for future generations, and to celebrate her life with this plaque.”
Ellie Smith, Associate Director, The Philip Mould Gallery, said: “By today’s standards, Mary Beale’s achievement is impressive. By the standards of her own time, it was truly extraordinary. Expertly balancing her multiple roles as an artist, mother, wife, and businesswoman, she built a thriving portrait practise in a male-dominated world. Her success helped establish a place for women within British art.”
Pictured: Mayor of Eastleigh, Cllr Richard Gomer, home owner Jo, along with Councillors and staff from Eastleigh Borough Council, as well as representatives from Historic England, Allbrook Parish Council and local history societies.
