This article is about the painter. For the linguist and anthropologist, see Mary B. Moser.
Mary MoserRA (27 October 1744 – 2 May 1819) was an Englishpainter and one of the most celebrated female artists of 18th-century Britain. One of only two female founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768 (along with Angelica Kauffman), Moser painted portraits but is particularly noted for her depictions of flowers.[1]
London-born Moser was trained by her Swiss-born artist and enameller father George Michael Moser (1706–1783), George III's own drawing master.[2] Her talents were evident at an early age: she won her first Society of Arts medal at 14,[3] and regularly exhibited flower pieces, and occasional history paintings, at the Society of Artists of Great Britain. Ten years later, however, her thirst for professional recognition led her to join with 35 other artists (including her father) in forming the Royal Academy, and, with Angelica Kauffman, she took an active role in proceedings.[4]
Brooklyn Museum – Flowers Still Life (Jardinière of Flowers) – Mary Moser
In a group portrait by Johan Zoffany, The Academicians of the Royal Academy (1771–72; Royal Collection, London), members are shown gathered around a nude male model at a time when women were excluded from such training in order to protect their modesty. So that Moser and Kauffman could be included, Zoffany added them as portraits hanging on the wall.[3]
Her influences include the older Dutch masters, famed for glowing color against dark backgrounds. From the beginning, her approach was "bold and luxurious,[6]" writes Germaine Greer.
In the 1790s, Moser received a prestigious commission, for which she was paid over £900, from Queen Charlotte to complete a floral decorative scheme for a room in Frogmore House in Windsor, Berkshire.[7] This was to prove one of her last professional works. At 53,[8] she married Captain Hugh Lloyd, the widower of a friend on 23 October 1793. She retired and began exhibiting as an amateur under her married name.[1] She continued showing at the Royal Academy until 1802.[3]
At this period Moser had a brief affair with artist Richard Cosway, who was then separated from his wife Maria Cosway, an Anglo-Italian artist. Moser travelled with him for six months on a sketching tour in 1793.
"One of the most celebrated women artists of 18th-century Britain,"[9] Moser died in Upper Thornhaugh Street, London, on 2 May 1819, and was buried, alongside her husband in Kensington Cemetery.[7]
Moser's pieces in the British Royal Collection show that she was not only "the first significant British flower painter, she was also one of the best."[10] Her portrait of famed British sculptor Joseph Nollekens hangs in the Yale Center for British Art.[11]
LegacyEdit
After Moser's death in 1819, no further women were elected as full members of the Academy until Dame Laura Knight in 1936.[12]
ReferencesEdit
^ abBrian Stewart & Mervyn Cutten (1997). The Dictionary of Portrait Painters in Britain up to 1920. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN1-85149-173-2.
^ANDRÉA, FERNANDES (27 October 2009). "Scandalous Academician: Mary Moser". Mentalfloss.com.
^ abcGibbons, Fiachra (24 September 2003). "Gallery honours pioneering woman painter". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
^Bluett, Amy (2 March 2015). "Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffman: the RA's founding women". Royal Academy of Arts. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
^"Mary Moser". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
^Greer, Germaine (1979). The Obstacle Race: The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work. Great Britain: Farrar Straus Giroux. p. 248.
^"Artist of the Month, Dame Laura Knight RA (1877–1970)". Royal Academy. July 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
Further readingEdit
de Bray, Lys (2001). The Art of Botanical Illustration: A history of classic illustrators and their achievements, p. 72. Quantum Publishing Ltd., London. ISBN1-86160-425-4.
3 artworks by or after Mary Moser at the Art UK site
Info and pictures from the National Portrait Gallery
October 25, 2023
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This article is about the painter For the linguist and anthropologist see Mary B Moser Mary Moser RA 27 October 1744 2 May 1819 was an English painter and one of the most celebrated female artists of 18th century Britain One of only two female founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768 along with Angelica Kauffman Moser painted portraits but is particularly noted for her depictions of flowers 1 Mary MoserA portrait of Mary Moser by George RomneyBorn 1744 10 27 27 October 1744LondonDied2 May 1819 1819 05 02 aged 74 NationalityBritishSpouseHugh LloydPatron s Queen Charlotte Contents 1 Life and career 2 Legacy 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife and career EditLondon born Moser was trained by her Swiss born artist and enameller father George Michael Moser 1706 1783 George III s own drawing master 2 Her talents were evident at an early age she won her first Society of Arts medal at 14 3 and regularly exhibited flower pieces and occasional history paintings at the Society of Artists of Great Britain Ten years later however her thirst for professional recognition led her to join with 35 other artists including her father in forming the Royal Academy and with Angelica Kauffman she took an active role in proceedings 4 nbsp Brooklyn Museum Flowers Still Life Jardiniere of Flowers Mary MoserIn a group portrait by Johan Zoffany The Academicians of the Royal Academy 1771 72 Royal Collection London members are shown gathered around a nude male model at a time when women were excluded from such training in order to protect their modesty So that Moser and Kauffman could be included Zoffany added them as portraits hanging on the wall 3 George Romney c 1770 painted a portrait of Moser at work on a still life which was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery London in 2003 5 Her influences include the older Dutch masters famed for glowing color against dark backgrounds From the beginning her approach was bold and luxurious 6 writes Germaine Greer In the 1790s Moser received a prestigious commission for which she was paid over 900 from Queen Charlotte to complete a floral decorative scheme for a room in Frogmore House in Windsor Berkshire 7 This was to prove one of her last professional works At 53 8 she married Captain Hugh Lloyd the widower of a friend on 23 October 1793 She retired and began exhibiting as an amateur under her married name 1 She continued showing at the Royal Academy until 1802 3 At this period Moser had a brief affair with artist Richard Cosway who was then separated from his wife Maria Cosway an Anglo Italian artist Moser travelled with him for six months on a sketching tour in 1793 One of the most celebrated women artists of 18th century Britain 9 Moser died in Upper Thornhaugh Street London on 2 May 1819 and was buried alongside her husband in Kensington Cemetery 7 Moser s pieces in the British Royal Collection show that she was not only the first significant British flower painter she was also one of the best 10 Her portrait of famed British sculptor Joseph Nollekens hangs in the Yale Center for British Art 11 Legacy EditAfter Moser s death in 1819 no further women were elected as full members of the Academy until Dame Laura Knight in 1936 12 References Edit a b Brian Stewart amp Mervyn Cutten 1997 The Dictionary of Portrait Painters in Britain up to 1920 Antique Collectors Club ISBN 1 85149 173 2 ANDREA FERNANDES 27 October 2009 Scandalous Academician Mary Moser Mentalfloss com a b c Gibbons Fiachra 24 September 2003 Gallery honours pioneering woman painter The Guardian London Retrieved 10 March 2010 Bluett Amy 2 March 2015 Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffman the RA s founding women Royal Academy of Arts Retrieved 17 April 2019 Mary Moser National Portrait Gallery Retrieved 17 April 2019 Greer Germaine 1979 The Obstacle Race The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work Great Britain Farrar Straus Giroux p 248 a b O Donoghue Freeman Marius 1894 Moser Mary In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 38 London Smith Elder amp Co Greer Germaine 1979 The Obstacle Race The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work Great Britain Farrar Straus Giroux New York pp 247 249 FERNANDES ANDREA 2009 Scandalous Academician Mary Moser Mental Floss Greer Germaine 2009 The Obstacle Race The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work Great Britain Farrar Straus Giroux p 248 Moser Mary Artworks Artuk org Artist of the Month Dame Laura Knight RA 1877 1970 Royal Academy July 2013 Retrieved 16 October 2017 Further reading Editde Bray Lys 2001 The Art of Botanical Illustration A history of classic illustrators and their achievements p 72 Quantum Publishing Ltd London ISBN 1 86160 425 4 Paris Spies Gans Mary Moser Portraitist Journal18 Issue 8 Self Portrait Fall 2019 https www journal18 org 4228 External links Edit3 artworks by or after Mary Moser at the Art UK site Info and pictures from the National Portrait Gallery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Moser amp oldid 1177243345, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
