Guess the Artist

Your clues this week are:

• The artist was English, apprenticed to a cabinet maker at age 11, and could have had a career building violins.
• Our artist changed course at age 21 and apprenticed to become a portrait, landscape and history painter instead. An abiding quest for the next 45 years was to paint one huge, splendid, reputation-sealing history painting but this goal proved elusive.
• The artist, who was gifted with speed and the ability to stand through up to seven sessions in one day, found success as a society painter. Success, and the enmity of fellow society painter Joshua Reynolds.

And


• The sitter here was a notorious woman who lived with both her elderly husband and her famous lover (who was also married, but wisely didn't drag his wife into the already-crowded household). Our artist painted her some 60 times as different historical and mythological figures, and -- less frequently -- as herself. Her name at birth was Amy Lyon, but by which name do we know her?

Please email me your guesses over the coming week. I'll post the winner and correct answer with next week's guessing game. Good luck!

Last Week's Answer:

The clues last week were a bit difficult, but all pertained to the Kleophrades Painter. I am thrilled to announce that Clarice, who sends the most lovely emails, correctly identified him first. Thank you for making my week by winning, Clarice (!), and thanks to everyone who participated.