Gertrude Massey

Gertrude Massey (née Seth; 21 February 1868 – 7 December 1957) was an English society painter and watercolourist who specialised in portrait miniatures.

Biography Gertrude Seth was born in Brixton the daughter of Prussian-born merchant Gustav Seth. Her sister Florence Seth (1870–1953) was also an artist.

After the death of her father, she enrolled at the Croydon School of Art and began painting for money, including selling calendars and postcards in local shops. They had a daughter Eva (born 1894).

It was around this time Massey began painting miniature portraits, particularly of children and pets, onto ivory which expanded to include Royalty. She painted over 30 miniatures for the Royal family over the course of her career, She was especially favoured by Alexandra of Denmark, who invited her to her drawing room at Balmoral.

In 1907, her husband bought and became principal of the Heatherley School of Fine Art. He was influenced by the Parisian atelier style of art education. The couple jointly ran and taught at the school for over 20 years.