BELDY, Mabel Maugham

Beldy (1874-1972) was the daughter of the artist Heywood Hardy and married the brother of Somerset Maugham. Her precocious talent was spotted by Whistler when she was only eight years old, Whistler proclaiming, ‘We shall certainly hear of her one day.’ In 1929, having already established herself as a watercolour artist, Beldy decided to explore compositions in fabric and she quickly mastered the medium, establishing in her compositions colour, perspective and movement. Her work was first shown in New York, but The Grosvenor Gallery in London became her principal dealers, beginning in 1939. Beldy’s work rapidly generated international interest and she had sell-out shows in Milan, Geneva, Basle, Paris, Turin and Rome. The Victoria & Albert Museum bought some of her work for the National collection.