Laura Herford
Anne Laura Herford (1831–1870) was a British artist in the early 19th century, and in 1860, was the first woman to be admitted to the Royal Academy schools. She exhibited at the Royal Academy twelve times.
Also recorded as Anne Laura Herford · Anne Herford · Laura A. Herford · Laura A. Hereford
Laura Herford
Laura Herford · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
- Born
- 1831
- Died
- 1870
- Nationality
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- Occupation
- painter
- Education
- Royal Academy of Arts
- Languages
- English
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Anne Laura Herford (1831–1870) was a British artist in the early 19th century, and in 1860, was the first woman to be admitted to the Royal Academy schools. She exhibited at the Royal Academy twelve times.
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Laura Herford (1831–1870) was a British painter. The painter studied at Royal Academy of Arts.
Languages used include English. Works by Laura Herford are held at The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatū.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q18821760 · wikipedia · Laura Herford
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Early career
Herford was born on 16 October 1831 to John Herford and Sarah Smith Herford. She studied under Eliza Fox (1824–1903), an artist best known for her genre and portraiture scenes which incorporated contemporary social commentary. Herford and Fox signed the 1859 petition to admit women to the Royal Academy. Herford applied under the name 'L. Hereford' and became a pupil in 1861 as the only woman at the academy. She exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1861 to 1869 and also at the Suffolk Street Gallery and the British Institution. Hereford exhibited in 1864 a picture entitled A Quiet Corner, and followed up her success by similar domestic scenes in 1865, 1866, and 1867.
Admittance to the Royal Academy
After encouragement from Charles Eastlake and Thomas Heatherley, Herford submitted several drawings to the academy's admissions tutors signed "L. Herford". The use of initials masked her gender, leading to the assumption that she was a man. She was admitted and an offer was made to "L. Herford, Esq" and she took up her place at the academy in 1860.
Laura Herford, 'The Little Emigrant', 1868 oil on canvas 368 x 248mm The Suter Te Aratoi o Whakatū
Laura Herford (British, 1831 - 1870) · https: set=gm.1768566607009648 idorvanity=1047443902455259
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Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Yeldham, Charlotte. Herford, Anne Laura. 2004.
- 2.Lewis, Reina. Gendering Orientalism: Race, Femininity and Representation. Routledge. 2013.
- 3.Cherry, Deborah. Beyond the Frame: Feminism and Visual Culture, Britain 1850-1900. Routledge. 2012.
- 4.Laura Hereford in Bénézit
- 5.Grey, Sara. The Dictionary of British Women Artists. Casemate Publishers. 2009.
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Studied at
1- Royal Academy of ArtsOrganisation
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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