The Great British Art Tour: Lady’s Anne fight for rights, a story in three parts

With public art collections closed we are bringing the art to you, exploring highlights from across the country in partnership with Art UK. Today’s pick: The Great Picture at Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal

This grand painting was commissioned by Lady Anne Clifford to mark her achievements and celebrate her prominent family, particularly its women. Made in 1646 during the English civil war, it is a rare celebration of the life of a woman of the period. It holds within it the story of Anne’s fight for her rights, and her talents as a writer who captured history from a woman’s perspective.

The huge work across three canvases is believed to be by Jan van Belcamp. It features Anne three times. The central panel places her mother at the centre, pregnant with Anne, with her husband and two young sons, both of whom died in childhood. To the left is Anne aged 15, surrounded by objects illustrating her education and vast accomplishments. Following the death of her father, Anne, his sole heir, had expected to inherit her family’s five castles and vast estates across Cumbria and Yorkshire.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2SjvmGV