Elizabeth Buggin

English School, 17thC

Summary

Half-length right side portrait of Elizabeth Buggin (?1578-1657), a middle-aged lady wearing a black dress with a deeply-pleated white ruff and cuffs in a fine sheer fabric. A narrow white band across her forehead forms the edge of her black wimple-style headcovering. Her hands are positioned in front of her waist, with the fingers of her right hand held in an elegant gesture. She has short, dark hair and a slightly double chin. There is a feigned oval surround painted in dark colours, with a neutral background. This painting was the subject of research initiated by the Art Detective UK website in 2020, which identifed the sitter as Elizabeth Buggin (née Bowes, ?1578 - 29 September 1657), of North Cray, Kent, England. This identification was possible as the painting is one of a set of four originating from the same family. The coat-of-arms on the portrait of her son, William Buggin (accession number 1947.11), was the key to establishing Elizabeth's identity. Elizabeth was a wealthy woman. She was not just an heiress but the daughter of one, inheriting North Cray Place from her father at about the time this portrait was painted. Family set of four: 1947.8-11