http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/arts/design/tate-17th-century-portrait-earliest-painting-by-a-woman-joan-carlile.html 2016-09-21 21:28:51 A 17th-Century Portrait Will Be the Earliest Painting by a Woman at the Tate “Portrait of an Unknown Lady” was made between 1650 and 1655 by Joan Carlile, one of the first women known to be a professional painter in England. === LONDON — A rare portrait by Joan Carlile, one of the first women known to be a professional painter in England, will become the earliest work by a female artist to enter the Tate collection here. The acquisition of “ Little is known about Carlile, the daughter of a A man was thought to be the painter of “Portrait of an Unknown Lady” when it went on sale in 2014 at an auction in the southern English city of Salisbury. It was bought by Bendor Grosvenor, an art dealer and historian who recognized the work as Carlile’s. In an Mr. Grosvenor added: “As a portrait painter she’s no Van Dyck. Part of her value lies in her story and background — but her work is no less fascinating for that.” The portrait will undergo restoration before going on public display.