Resilience captured of famous Suffragist Millicent
Swynnerton poignantly captures the qualities in her sitter. Alex Farquharson, Tate Britain.
A PAINTING that captures the “resilience” of Suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett has gone on display at Tate Britain to mark 100 years since women first gained the right to vote.
The portrait was painted by Manchester-born artist Annie Swynnerton, who was a campaigner for women’s rights.
Its display coincides with the centenary, on February 6, of the Representation of the People Act, in which some women first won the right to vote.
Swynnerton was the first woman to be elected an associate member of the Royal Academy of Arts and a passionate campaigner for women’s right to vote.
The picture on display at Tate Britain is thought to date from 1899 when Fawcett, shown wearing university robes, was given an honorary doctorate by the University of St Andrews.
Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson said: “Swynnerton poignantly captures the qualities of resilience and compassion in her sitter, revealing the force behind this exceptional woman.”
The painting will be on display at Tate Britain until February 12, before going on loan to Manchester Art Gallery for the exhibition Annie Swynnerton: Painting Light And Hope, opening on February 23.
Meanwhile, the greatgranddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst has struck a commemorative 50p coin to mark the centenary of the Representation of the People Act. Dr Helen Pankhurst was at the Royal Mint in Wales to mark the moment 100 years ago when women were finally given the right to vote.