Historic England unveils plaque for Mary Beale from Suffolk

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A Suffolk-born painter has become the first 17th-century figure to be honoured with a national blue plaque.

Mary Beale, one of the first English women to work as a professional artist, was born in Suffolk in 1633.

The plaque celebrating her achievements has been installed by Historic England at Allbrook Farmhouse in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

A spokeswoman for Historic England said: "Mary Beale was one of the first English women to work as a professional artist, an extraordinary achievement when women were largely excluded from artistic training.

The plaque celebrates the achievements of Mary Beale from Suffolk (Image: Cordelia Porter/Historic England/PA Wire)

"Unlike many of her male contemporaries, she succeeded without financial support from a wealthy patron.

"She also trained other women in painting, and she is sometimes cited as the first woman to have written an instructional text for painting in English."

Baroness Twycross, heritage minister, added: "It is fitting that a pioneering woman has become the first ever seventeenth century figure to be honoured with a national blue plaque."

Mary Beale died in 1699 and her first solo exhibition came only in 1975.

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