7 OF 13

Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne)

7 of 13 portraits on display on Floor 2: Getting the Picture at Beningbrough Hall

by Thomas Hudson
oil on canvas, feigned oval, engraved 1749
30 in. x 24 3/4 in. (762 mm x 629 mm)
Purchased, 1967
Primary Collection
NPG 4526

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Sitterback to top

Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne) (1714-1766), Actress and singer. Sitter in 6 portraits.

Artistback to top

Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), Portrait painter and art collector. Artist associated with 181 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Susannah Maria Arne, the actress and singer, was the sister of the composer Thomas Augustus Arne. In 1734 she married the playwright Theophilus Cibber, the son of the actor Collay Cibber. Appearing frequently opposite Garrick, her greatest successes date from c.1744. The contralto songs in Handel's Messiah were written for her.

More detailed information from an out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue.

Related worksback to top

NPG D20105: Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne) (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 55
Perry, Gill (introduction) Roach, Joseph (appreciation) and West, Shearer (appreciation), The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 2011 to 8 January 2012), p. 82
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 125