Mary Martha Pearson

Mary Martha Pearson (née Dutton; 1798–1871) was an English portrait painter.

Life

She was born on 18 June 1798 in Birchin Lane in the City of London, who also ran a circulating library in Gracechurch Street, she married Charles Pearson, who later became the solicitor to the City of London and a member of parliament. Following her marriage, she continued her study of the old masters, as well as painting portraits and some landscapes. She won silver medals for views of the Rhine, and of Bodiam Castle. She was an early member of the Society of British Artists, Reviewing her portrait of Lady Mostyn, shown there in 1834, the critic of Arnold's Magazine of the Fine Arts said The portraits by Mrs. Pearson have ever an air of identity about them, and in the opinion of many, this, after all, in portraiture, is the only quality that the artist needs to be so very solicitous to produce. The head of Lady Mostyn, however, is worthy of higher note.

When her husband developed a site in Westminster, on the south side of St James's Park, the block of buildings constructed included both offices for himself, and a studio and gallery for his wife.

She painted numerous portraits of leading figures in the Corporation of London, including several Lord Mayors.

She did not show work at any of the major London exhibitions after 1842.

Her sister, a miniature painter (named in the catalogues simply as "Miss Dutton") showed portraits of her at the Royal Academy in 1834 and 1852.

She had a daughter, Mary Dutton Pearson. Miss Smithson of Drury Lane Theatre in the character of Ellen in the Falls of the Clyde (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1823). Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere (1825; National Portrait Gallery) Chapman Marshall (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1825). Captain William Joseph Eastwick (1827: British Library India Office Collection) Mrs S.C. Hall (Anna Maria Hall) (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1830). Sir John Key, the Lord Mayor (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1831). Lord Denman (1779–1854), Baron of Dovedale (c.1832; City of London Corporation). J. Humphrey, M.P., Sheriff of London and Middlesex (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1832). Sir James Shaw, Chamberlain of the City of London, "as he appeared in the act of presenting the freedom of the city, in a gold box, to the Earl Grey, in the Court of Common Council". (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1834; Corporation of London). Henry Winchester, the Lord Mayor (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1835). William Taylor Copeland, the Lord Mayor. (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1836). Thomas Kelly, Lord Mayor. (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1837). Sir John Pirie, Lord Mayor (exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1842). Samuel Birch, Lord Mayor of London (1832; City of London Corporation). Thomas Wright Hill (Birmingham City Art Gallery);