Art Funded by you

Portrait of Mary Harvey, Lady Dering (1629-1704)

Thomas Hawker, 1683

Thomas Hawker, Portrait of Mary Harvey, Lady Dering (1629-1704), 1683, Royal College of Music Museum, London, Art Funded 2021
Courtesy Royal College of Music Museum

Mary Harvey (1629-1704), the sitter in this impressive baroque portrait by Thomas Hawker, is the first documented female composer in British history.  

Harvey began her musical studies in 1649 under the tutelage of Henry Lawes, the most famous composer of his day. In 1655 Lawes published his Second Book of Ayres and Dialogues, in which he commented that three of the ‘ayres’ were of Harvey’s composition. It was very rare for amateur composers to allow their names to be published at this time, and Harvey was the first woman to permit her name to appear in this way. The words to the ‘ayres’ were written by Harvey’s husband, Sir Edward Dering, a talented poet. 

The portrait is a rare example of the work of Hawker, one of society painter Peter Lely’s chief studio assistants. Hawker took over Lely’s house and studio after the artist’s death in 1680.  

Hawker’s portrait of Harvey is on display in the Royal College of Music Museum’s new building, which opened in October 2021. The museum’s collection includes more than 25,000 musical instruments, paintings, manuscripts and other items, and this portrait reflects the current effort to increase the representation of women in it. 

More information

Title of artwork, date

Portrait of Mary Harvey, Lady Dering (1629-1704), 1683

Date supported

2021

Medium and material

Oil

Dimensions

126 x 101 cm

Total cost

39360

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