Anna Lea Merritt

Anna Lea Merritt was an American-born artist, born on September 13, 1844, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and she passed away on April 7, 1930, in Hurstbourne Tarrant, England. She is primarily associated with the Pre-Raphaelite movement, although her work also reflects elements of realism and symbolism. Merritt moved to Europe in the 1860s, where she studied art in Italy, Germany, and France before settling in England. Her most renowned work, "Love Locked Out," became the first painting by a woman to be purchased by the Tate Gallery in London. Despite the challenges faced by women artists of her time, Merritt achieved significant recognition and contributed to the visibility of female artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her career was marked by a blend of portraiture, religious themes, and allegorical subjects, reflecting her diverse artistic interests and technical skill.