The Life and Artistic Evolution of Anna Blunden
Born in Clerkenwell, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Anna Blunden was an English Pre-Raphaelite artist. Her early career was marked by a focus on oil painting and figure painting, often depicting modern subjects. One of her most notable works is The Seamstress (1854), a piece inspired by Thomas Hood’s poem "The Song of the Shirt," which explored the exploitative conditions of needlewomen. Other works from this period include A Scene from Uncle Tom's Cabin (1853), A Mother's Tale (exhibited in 1855), and Past and Present (exhibited in 1858).
Throughout her professional life, Blunden exhibited her work with the Royal Academy and the Society of British Artists between 1854 and 1867, as well as the Birmingham Society of Artists. Her artistic journey saw a significant transition in the 1860s, as she moved from oil painting and portraiture toward painting landscapes in watercolours. This shift toward watercolour landscapes accounts for a large proportion of her remaining works.
Travels and Later Years
Blunden's life was marked by significant travel and personal change. Following correspondence and informal instruction from John Ruskin, she traveled to Italy from 1867 to 1872, eventually setting up a studio in Rome. She also visited Switzerland and Germany. After the death of her sister in 1872, she returned home and married her brother-in-law, Francis Richard Martino. The couple moved to Birmingham, where Martino owned a steel mill.
In her later years, Blunden's exhibition record changed:
Questions & Answers
In which movements did Anna Blunden work?
The All Movements page groups Anna Blunden's artworks by art movement.
Can I explore Anna Blunden's works by color spectrum?
Anna Blunden's works can be explored by color on the artist's Spectral Index page.
Is there a complete list of Anna Blunden's artworks?
Every work by Anna Blunden on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
What other names is Anna Blunden known by?
Anna Blunden appears under the alternate names Anna E. Blunden, Mrs. Francis Richard Martino.
