Maria Cosway, née Hadfield, died #OTD 1838. Born in Livorno in 1760 (English father, Italian mother) she studied painting in Italy before moving to London and becoming much put-upon wife of fashionable artist Richard Cosway. "Self Portrait with Turban" 1778 (Uffizi). #WomensArt

In the first years of their marriage Maria continued to paint but Richard Cosway banned her from selling her work. In this 1787 self-portrait Maria paints herself with folded arms, representing her inability to follow her profession ( @britishmuseum CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). #WomensArt

Richard Cosway later relented and supported Maria's career, and she continued to work and exhibit, as well as engraving many of his works. He was a faithless husband and caused her much personal unhappiness. "Sappho" 1826 attr Maria Cosway after Richard Cosway
@YaleBritishArt.

Maria Cosway later wrote that the ban harmed her: "Had Mr C. permitted me to paint professionally, I should have made a better painter, but left to myself by degrees instead of improving, I lost what I had brought from Italy of my early studies". "The Hours" (c1783). #WomensArt

Maria Cosway had one child, Angelica, whose death aged 10 left her distraught. In her later years she separated from her husband and travelled a great deal in France and Italy, and set up a convent school at Lodi near Milan. "A Seated Girl" (undated) @philamuseum. #WomensArt