The exact date of birth of Mary Beale is not known. It is only known that her maiden name was Cradock and her father John Cradock was a minister in Suffolk and an amateur painter. Mary inherited his talent and therefore probably received an education as a painter. Where and with whom is also not known. In any case, she was already a successful painter at the age of about 25. Sir William Sanderson, a well-known English historian called her one of the best painters of her time. At that time she was already married to Charles Beale and lived in London. There are two beautiful portraits of the two Mary Beale painted in 1663 and 1665, which are now exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery in London. After the birth of their two sons, Bartholomew and Charles, the couple moved to the countryside in Allbrook in Hampshire, mainly out of fear of the plague that was rampant in London at the time.
Some years later, back in London, Mary Beale decided to work as a commissioned painter. Her husband helped her with the bookkeeping, making appointments and also with the preparation of the colours and the painting ground. Even the little sons already had their tasks. They even sometimes painted the backgrounds of the paintings. Mary painted members of noble families, church people and wealthy citizens. She is said to have received between 5 and 10 pounds for a portrait. The Beales ran a very comfortable and hospitable household and it is known that Mary Beale was also very charitable and donated a lot to the poor.
Besides her activity as a painter, Mary Beale was also a writer and poet. She wrote essays and essays in which, among other things, she dealt with the meaning of friendship and also already with the equality of men and women. In the last 15 years of Mary Beale's artistic work, the number of commissioned works decreased. She began to experiment more and more, dealing with different themes, different colours and differently structured canvases. Mary Beale died at the age of about 66 and was buried at St. James Church in Piccadilly. Her husband outlived her by 6 years. Both sons received art lessons from their mother, the younger Charles also became a painter.
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_Amsterdam_1741_-_(MeisterDrucke-243145).jpg "Thomas Otway, engraved by Jacobus Houbraken by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Lady by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Physician by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of the Royal Mistress Nell Gwyn by Mary Beale")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1555286).jpg "Frances Pierrepont, Duchess of Newcastle by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Bartholomew Beale by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Charles Paulet, 1st Duke of Bolton by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Self Portrait with husband, Charles and son, Bartholomew, c.1659-60 by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Thomas Otway by Mary Beale")
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_duc_de_Bolton_-_Peinture_de_Mary_Bea_-_(MeisterDrucke-1323060).jpg "Portrait of Charles Paulet, Duke of Bolton by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Youth by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Young Girl by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of Richard Gulston by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Mary Wither of Andwell by Mary Beale")
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 - (MeisterDrucke-156171).jpg "Portrait of Aphra Behn by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Mary Wither of Andwell by Mary Beale")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1009292).jpg "A Lady Called Lady Paston by Mary Beale")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1457857).jpg "Abigail Jordan by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of a Young Girl by Mary Beale")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-900659).jpg "Portrait of Thomas Fountaine by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Viscountess Frances Hatton by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Aphra Behn by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Catherine Johnston by Mary Beale")
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_-_(MeisterDrucke-1376397).jpg "St Catherine of Alexandria by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Portrait of Thomas Otway by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "The Penitent Magdalene by Mary Beale")
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.jpg "Thomas Otway by Mary Beale")
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