Early Life, Family and Training

Born in Yorkshire in 1676, Sarah Hoadly entered a world where her talent for capturing faces would eventually define her life's work. Before she became a wife and mother, she was a woman building a reputation as a British portrait painter. Her path into the arts was shaped by the guidance of Mary Beale, a woman who served as her pupilage mentor and helped her find her footing in the professional art world.

Her professional life and her personal life became closely intertwined through her art. While working as a painter, she met one of her sitters, Benjamin Hoadly. Their connection led them to St. James's, Piccadilly, where they were married on 30 May 1701. This marriage marked a significant transition for Sarah, as she moved from her early years of training into a new chapter of domestic life alongside her husband.

Key Works and Notable Sitters

Sarah Hoadly’s reputation as a portrait painter was built through her encounters with influential figures of her time. One of her notable subjects was William Whiston, a mathematician and theologian. She painted his likeness in the 1720s, and this particular work is held today in the National Portrait Gallery. Her ability to capture such figures helped establish her presence in the professional circles of the era.

Her relationship with her sitters often crossed into her personal life, most notably with her husband, Benjamin Hoadly. She painted his portrait, a work that has been noted for its connection to other prominent artists of the period. Beyond her family, she also turned her attention to Gilbert Burnet. Her portrait of Burnet was later used as the basis for a print by Bernard Picart, and the image was engraved by William Faithorne the Younger.

Legacy and Works in Collections

The reach of Sarah Hoadly’s work extends into several national collections throughout the United Kingdom. Her presence in these institutions ensures that her skill as a portraitist remains part of the public record. One of her notable contributions is held within the National Portrait Gallery, where her ability to capture the likeness of her subjects is preserved.

Among the pieces held in the National Portrait Gallery is a portrait of her husband, Benjamin Hoadly. This work offers a glimpse into her personal life and her professional skill, as she painted the man who would become her second husband. Another significant piece in the collection is her portrait of William Whiston. This particular work is a copy of an earlier version, showing how her likenesses were preserved and reproduced for later generations.

• Benjamin Hoadly (portrait)
• William Whiston (portrait)

Later Years and Death

The later years of Sarah Hoadly's life were deeply intertwined with her marriage to Benjamin Hoadly. Their union, which took place at St. James's, Piccadilly, in 1701, was marked by the complexities of building a family. Together, they had five children, all of whom were sons. The realities of motherhood during this period were often difficult, as two of her children were still-born, leaving the family to navigate both the joys and the quiet sorrows of raising their surviving sons.

As she moved through her later years, her identity remained closely linked to her husband's growing prominence. She passed away in 1743, aged between 66 and 67. Her death left behind a family that would continue to be part of the intellectual and religious landscape of the time, particularly through her son John, who would later become an editor of his father's works.