A Life Immersed in Art
Henrietta Mary Ada Ward was a British historical and genre painter of the Victorian era and the early twentieth century. Born into a family of professional artists, she was the daughter of George Raphael Ward, a printmaker, and Mary Webb Ward, a miniaturist. Her grandfather was the animal painter James Ward. Growing up surrounded by prominent artistic figures, she studied her craft at the Bloomsbury Art School and the academy started by Henry Sass.
In 1848, Henrietta married the historical painter Edward Matthew Ward. Together, they were supporters of women's suffrage. While raising their eight children, including the caricaturist Leslie Ward, she pursued her own career. She was noted for her historical pictures and her paintings of children, often using her own children as models.
Artistic Achievements and Legacy
Ward became a prominent female history painter, creating works such as Palissy the Potter, which was displayed at the Royal Academy in 1866. Her historical subjects included Queen Mary Quitting Stirling Castle and Scene from the Childhood of Joan of Arc. She also gave art lessons to several royal children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Her notable works include:
- The Market at Antwerp
- At the Louvre, 1649
- The Princes in the Tower
- Chatterton, 1765
- Peace and Plenty
After her husband's death, she started her own art school to train young women artists. She also exhibited at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. In her later years, she published two autobiographical memoirs: Mrs. E. M. Ward’s Reminiscences and Memories of Ninety Years.
