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Sarah Biffen

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Sarah Biffen

Birth
East Quantoxhead, West Somerset District, Somerset, England
Death
2 Oct 1850 (aged 65)
Liverpool, Metropolitan Borough of Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Burial
Liverpool, Metropolitan Borough of Liverpool, Merseyside, England Add to Map
Plot
Her gravestone sadly no longer survives, but her epitaph is shown below
Memorial ID
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Artist and British Folk Figure. She was a Victorian English mouth painter who received Royal commissions. Born with no arms, and only vestigial legs, she learnt to write, sew and later paint, using her mouth. In adulthood, she never grew above 94cm (37in) in height. She was apprenticed to a man named Emmanuel Dukes, who exhibited her in fairs and sideshows throughout England where she sold her paintings and autographs, and took admission fees to let others see her sew, paint and draw. She drew landscapes or painted portrait miniatures onto ivory. In 1808, the Earl of Morton, witnessing her talent, sponsored her to receive lessons from the painter William Craig. The Society of Artists of Great Britain awarded her a medal for her accomplishments in 1821 and the Royal Academy accepted her paintings. This soon led to the Royal Family commissioning her to paint miniature portraits of them, as a result of which she became very popular. She set up a studio in Bond Street, London, and was mentioned by Charles Dickens in three of his novels. Queen Victoria awarded her a Civil List pension and she retired to a private life in Liverpool.
Artist and British Folk Figure. She was a Victorian English mouth painter who received Royal commissions. Born with no arms, and only vestigial legs, she learnt to write, sew and later paint, using her mouth. In adulthood, she never grew above 94cm (37in) in height. She was apprenticed to a man named Emmanuel Dukes, who exhibited her in fairs and sideshows throughout England where she sold her paintings and autographs, and took admission fees to let others see her sew, paint and draw. She drew landscapes or painted portrait miniatures onto ivory. In 1808, the Earl of Morton, witnessing her talent, sponsored her to receive lessons from the painter William Craig. The Society of Artists of Great Britain awarded her a medal for her accomplishments in 1821 and the Royal Academy accepted her paintings. This soon led to the Royal Family commissioning her to paint miniature portraits of them, as a result of which she became very popular. She set up a studio in Bond Street, London, and was mentioned by Charles Dickens in three of his novels. Queen Victoria awarded her a Civil List pension and she retired to a private life in Liverpool.

Bio by: Grave Tag'r

Inscription

Reader Pause, deposited beneath are the remains of
SARAH BIFFIN (sic)
Who was born without arms, hands, and legs at Quantoxhead, County of Somerset 25th October 1784, died 2nd October 1850.
Few have passed through the vale of life so much the child of hapless fortune as the deceased. And yet possessor of mental endowments of no ordinary kind. Gifted with singular talents as an artist, thousands have been gratified with the able productions of her pencil! Whilst versatile conversation and agreeable manners elicited the admiration of all. This tribute to one so universally admired is paid by those who were best acquainted with the character it so briefly portrays.
Do any enquire otherwise?
The answer is supplied in the solemn admonition of the prophet-
Now no longer the subject of tears
Her conflicts and trials o'er
In the presence of God she appears
(the final line hidden in undergrowth)

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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Grave Tag'r
  • Added: Dec 10, 2014
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139847514/sarah-biffen: accessed ), memorial page for Sarah Biffen (25 Oct 1784–2 Oct 1850), Find a Grave Memorial ID 139847514, citing St James Garden Cemetery, Liverpool, Metropolitan Borough of Liverpool, Merseyside, England; Maintained by Find a Grave.