Face to Face with Maria Cosway

Maria Cosway is an artist and a heroine. Maria Hadfield was born in Florence, where she escaped death by the hand of a maid who had already killed four of her siblings. Her mother later relocated the family to England and Maria married fellow artist Richard Cosway. Maria Cosway is one of the few women of her era to be recognised by the Royal Academy of Arts. She was encouraged by her predecessor and mentor Angelica Kauffman who is also represented in the Baillieu’s collection. Maria did not reach her full potential as an artist because her husband would not give permission for her to become a professional painter. Her self portrait was exhibited at the Royal Academy. It is now lost, but recorded through mezzotint. She is perhaps best known for her romantic relationship with American president Thomas Jefferson and she inspired his only known love letter.

The Maria Cosway mezzotint  is on display in Face to Face: portraits of artists on the ground floor of the Baillieu Library until 9 June 2012.