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Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) by Jonathan Richardson originally hung in Wortley Hall. It was acquired by the city of Sheffield in 1977, firmly claiming the forthright and pioneering Lady Mary as one of our own, and she is a firm favourite with staff and visitors alike.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762)

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689–1762) c.1718

Jonathan Richardson the elder (1667–1745)

Sheffield Museums

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was a writer, traveller and medical pioneer. Born in 1689, she was a woman ahead of her time. Her eighteenth-century contemporary Joseph Spence described her as 'one of the most extraordinary characters in the world... she shines like a comet; she is all irregular and always wandering.'

Edward Wortley Montagu (1678–1761), Ambassador (1716–1718)

Edward Wortley Montagu (1678–1761), Ambassador (1716–1718) 1730

John Vanderbank (1694–1739)

Government Art Collection

Born in Nottinghamshire, her connection with Sheffield comes through her husband Edward Wortley Montagu with whom she eloped in 1712. His family estates included Wortley Hall, north of Sheffield, although Lady Mary only lived there briefly. In 1716 her husband was appointed ambassador to Turkey and Lady Mary travelled across Europe to meet him in Constantinople (now Istanbul). She was a prolific letter writer, sharing details of everything from gossip, her tempestuous relationship with poet Alexander Pope, thoughts about literature and science and her quest to conquer smallpox.

As a young woman, Lady Mary had caught smallpox – an epidemic that left one in four dead (and had killed her brother). Those who did survive were left with terrible scars, and, in Lady Mary's case, permanent damage to her eyes as well.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu with her son, Edward Wortley Montagu, and attendants

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu with her son, Edward Wortley Montagu, and attendants c.1717

Jean-Baptiste Vanmour (1671–1737) (attributed to)

National Portrait Gallery, London

While living in Turkey, Lady Mary witnessed local people being vaccinated against smallpox – a practice unknown at the time to western medicine. She had her young son Edward inoculated, and, despite a battle raging about the safety of the practice, went on to vaccinate her daughter Mary during the epidemic of 1721. Back in England she became a strong advocate for smallpox inoculation and persuaded many in her circle to undertake the procedure, most influentially Caroline, Princess of Wales, who caused uproar by having her two daughters inoculated.

Her embrace of Turkish culture extended to local costume, and many portraits depict her dressed Turkish-style, which made this style of dress extremely popular in portraits of the time.

Sian Brown, Head of Collections, Museums Sheffield

Richardson's portrait of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is available to buy as a framed or unframed print from the Art UK Shop.

A version of this article was originally published by The Guardian as part of The Great British Art Tour

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