Mary Benwell
Mary Benwell (1739–after 1800), married name Codd, was an English artist, a miniaturist and pastellist.
Also recorded as Mrs. Mary Code · Mary, Mrs. Code · Mary Code Benwell · Mary Code
Mary Benwell
w:John Hoppner (1758–1810) · Original publication: The Connoisseur, (December 1901) Immediate source · Public domain
- Name
- Mary Benwell Codd
- Birth Name
- Mary Benwell
- Died
- unknown, after 1800
- Field
- Miniaturist, Pastel
- Born
- 1739 · London.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Great Britain
- Occupation
- painter · draftsperson · pastellist
- Fields
- miniature
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Mary Benwell (1739–after 1800), married name Codd, was an English artist, a miniaturist and pastellist.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
Mary Benwell (1739–1800) was a draftsperson, painter and pastellist, of British nationality. The draftsperson was born in London.
Mary Benwell worked in London. Activity centred on miniature.
The work spans mythological and portrait. Languages used include English. Works are held at National Portrait Gallery, Uffizi Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q16203783 · wikipedia · Mary Benwell
In this article
Biography
Biography
The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is miniature. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are portrait and mythological. Places of work recorded in the authority are London. Work by Mary Benwell is recorded in the collections of Victoria and Albert Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Uffizi Gallery.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Mary Benwell Codd • Birth Name — Mary Benwell • Died — unknown, after 1800 • Field — Miniaturist, Pastel
Life
Life
Benell's teachers may have included John Russell or Catherine Read. Benwell resided in Warwick Court, London, and exhibited crayon portraits and miniatures at the Incorporated Society of Artists and the Royal Academy between the years 1761 and 1791 and at The Society of Artists from 1762 to 1774. She worked also in oil colours and made a reputation in her profession, but she retired from it on her marriage about 1762 with a military officer named Codd (also Coode, Coade). She was still living in Paddington in 1800.
Works
Works
• Illustration — 1772 miniature on ivory. There is a portrait of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, engraved after her by Richard Houston; and another of Miss Brockhurst, by J. Saunders. Other works were The Studious Fair (said to be a portrait of Queen Charlotte), engraved by Charles Spooner, and Cupid Disarmed, engraved by Charles Knight.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Mary Benwell”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q16203783: Mary Benwell
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
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.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
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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