MARY BEALE,
the daughter of Mr. Craddock, a clergyman, was born at Suffolk about 1632. She received some instruction from Walker, but was a favorite pupil of Sir Peter Lely. She painted in oil, water-colors, and crayons. She acquired much of the Italian style by copying old pictures from Lely’s and the royal collection. She copied some of the portraits of Vandyck. Her works were remarkable for vigor of drawing and fresh coloring, with great purity and sweetness. The artist was an estimable and amiable woman; was highly respected, and mingled in the society of the noble and the learned. Her pencil was employed by many personages of distinction. Her husband was an inferior painter.
It was rumored that Sir Peter Lely was romantically attached to his fair pupil; but his love could not have met with return, for he is known to have been reserved in communicating to her the resources of his pencil. He refused to intrust to her one of the important secrets of his art.
Several poems in praise of Mrs. Beale were published; one in particular is remembered, by Dr. Woodfall, in which she is celebrated under the name of “Belasia.” Her husband, Charles Beale, had the curious practice of noting in small almanac pocket-books almost daily accounts of whatever related to his wife, her pictures, or himself. He practiced chemistry for the preparation of colors. He bequeathed thirty of the almanacs, filled with his notes, and records of the praises lavished on his wife’s pictures, to a colorman named Carter.
Walpole says Mrs. Beale’s portraits were numerous. She painted one of Otway, the poet. The Archbishop Tillotson was her patron, and many of the clergy sat to her. The archbishop’s portrait is the first of an ecclesiastic who, quitting the coif of silk, is delineated in a brown wig.
Some have said that she persuaded her friends to sit to Lely, that she might learn his method of coloring. There is no doubt that she rose to the first rank in her profession. One of her sons became a painter. She died at Pall Mall in 1697, aged sixty-five.