Laura Herford (1831 - 1870)

Laura was a British artist who despite her relatively short life and career, managed to have a lasting impact.  She studied under Eliza Fox, a successful portraitist, who taught female artists in her father’s house in Regents Park. At the time The Royal Academy was still excluding women from the RA Schools education and from the 1940s multiple petitions had been submitted to the House of Commons with no success. In 1959 Laura signed another unsuccessful petition but the turning point was around the corner. In 1961 she decided to apply to the RA schools anyway, but by submitting her portfolio with her initials alone. Her application was accepted and she became the first woman admitted. In the 10 years following, an additional 34 additional women were admitted. This change that Laura and her fellow female artists instigated was referred to as “The invasion,” by G. D Leslie, in his 1914 book, ‘The Inner Life of the Royal Academy”. She exhibited 12 times at the RA in her short career but despite this run her work is mostly untraceable online. The only piece found was a painting she created after a trip to New Zealand in 1865. On this 3-month trip to New Zealand she was attempting to find her injured brother. Her brother unfortunately died before her arrival but during her stay she was inspired by the life story of one of her hosts, an emigrant from Leeds. Laura said ‘She recounted how she often sat by the bulwarks looking out over the “wide, wide sea dreaming of home…” Laura created the painting back in England which was later shipped to New Zealand for her hosts. If anyone knows who holds her collection please do leave a comment  thanks!