Oil on canvas (lined), unsigned, half length portrait of a man and woman, the woman holds a letter with the return address reading "Burlington Quay / Feb. 1833," the man holding a letter and resting his arm atop a book marked "Chemistry & Medicine" on the spine, presented in period gilt frames.

Stretcher size 30 1/4 x 25 in.; Frame dimensions 36 1/2 x 31 1/4 in.

Hannah Maria Hudson was born in Dumfries, Scotland in 1815. As her father was a Wesleyan minister, the family moved shortly after her birth to Barrow upon Humber in Lincolnshire, England.

In 1831, Hannah traveled from England to Western Australia aboard the "Eliza." She remained in Australia, settling in Van Diemen's Land, the colonial name of the island of Tasmania. She remained in the colony until 1838, working as a teacher and a painter.

By 1840, she was back in England. She married Richard Hardey and the couple moved to Hull in East Yorkshire. She found work as a portrait painter and worked under the name "Mrs. Richard Hardey." Sadly, Hannah developed breast cancer and passed away in 1865. Her husband went on to open a successful photography studio.

Allover stable craquelure; scattered retouch visible under UV light; chipping and rubbing to frames.