Anna Seward

Sitterback to top

• Anna Seward (1742-1809), Writer and poet. Sitter associated with 4 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Tilly Kettle (1735-1786), Painter. Artist associated with 19 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Born in the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, Anna Seward lived from the age of ten at Lichfield where her father Thomas Seward was canon. After her father's death in 1790 she continued to live in the bishop's palace and wrote romantic poetry. Her elegies on Captain Cook and on David Garrick brought her to public notice and she became friendly with many leading members of intellectual society. She bequeathed all her poems to Sir Walter Scott who published them as Poetical Works in 1810. Six volumes of her letters appeared the following year. She is seen is this portrait holding a book whose pages are headed 'Wilton'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Eger, Elizabeth; Peltz, Lucy, Brilliant Women: 18th Century Bluestockings, 2008 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 13 March to 15 June 2008), p. 47
• Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 423
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 556
• Uglow, Jenny, Character Sketches: Dr Johnson, His Club and Other Friends, 1998, p. 18

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Brilliant Women: 18th-Century Bluestockings (13 March 2008 - 15 June 2008)