Mrs. William Claxton (nee Boardman) And Her Son William Richards Claxton — Margaret Sarah Carpenter

Mrs. William Claxton (Nee Boardman) and Her Son William Richards Claxton

Margaret Sarah Carpenter’s ‘Mrs. William Claxton’ (1848) is a stunning Neoclassical portrait showcasing familial love & exquisite detail. Explore Victorian elegance & artistic skill.


margaret sarah carpenter (1793 - 1872)

Discover Margaret Sarah Carpenter (1793-1872), a celebrated English portrait painter known for her elegant style reminiscent of Lawrence. Explore her works, including portraits of Ada Lovelace & prominent figures, and her legacy as a pioneering femal

Crocker Art Museum (Sacramento, United States of America)

Experience the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento through its premier collection of Californian masterpieces and world-class international ceramics, offering an unforgettable journey into art history that invites you to explore.

Mrs. Claxton and her son William embrace as Mrs. Claxton looks up from her reading. Such an informal depiction is enlivened by the qualities of light, from the hard glint of her brooch and the chair back, to the differing softness of taffeta, velvet and lace. Carpenter exhibited talent early in life. By the time this painting was made, she was the most important female portraitist in Britain, renowned for her technique. She exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy until 1866. Her husband, William Carpenter, was Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. Their great-nephew was the California artist Percy Gray.