Sarah Biffen: The 19th Century Artist Born Without Limbs #art #history #paintings

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Sarah Biffin was a pioneering English artist born with phocomelia, a condition that left her without arms and with underdeveloped legs. Despite her disability, she learned to write and paint using her mouth, eventually becoming a celebrated miniature portrait artist. She was initially exhibited at fairs by Emmanuel Dukes, who marketed her as a novelty, though she earned little for her work.

Her talent caught the attention of George Douglas, Earl of Morton, who sponsored her formal art training. She later painted for British royalty, won a Society of Arts medal, and exhibited at the Royal Academy. After the Earl's death and a failed marriage, she struggled financially but continued her artistic career under the name "Mrs. E. M. Wright."

Queen Victoria granted her a modest pension, and she spent her final years in Liverpool, where supporters helped fund her later life. Biffin died in 1850 and is recognized today as Britain’s first recorded mouth painter. Her work has since gained significant recognition, including a major exhibition in 2022 and renewed interest from institutions like the Museum of Somerset and the National Portrait Gallery.