Sarah Biffen (1784 – 2 October 1850), also known as Biffin, Beffin, or by her married name Mrs E.M. Wright, was a Victorian English painter born with no arms and only vestigial legs. She was 94 cm (37 in) tall... Despite her handicap she learned to read, and to write and paint using her mouth. She was apprenticed to a man named Dukes who exhibited her as an attraction throughout England. In the St. Bartholomew's Fair of 1808, she came to the attention of George Douglas, the Earl of Morton who then went on to sponsor her to receive lessons from a Royal Academy of Arts painter, William Craig. The Society of Arts awarded her a medal in 1821 for a historical miniature and the Royal Academy accepted her paintings.
The top self-portrait is presumably from early in her career. The one below appears to be the product of a more experienced artist.
I wonder which portrait is closer to the truth? I suppose they may both be accurate for that time in her life.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this article posted a few times now and find it nicely uplifting.
ReplyDeleteI do have to say that Sarah's earlier self-portrait looks remarkably like the current Jeopardy champion (at least through 12/24/21) Amy Schneider.
One may have had to watch her several nights of her many wins to see the resemblance.