Ruth's Blog

Before photography became available in the mid-19th century, someone who wanted to create a lasting likeness of themselves, might have commissioned an artist to paint a portrait.

In Louth, the go-to portrait painter was Bennett Hubbard, a talented artist who painted Louth’s great and good.  His studio was initially (until at least 1850) in New Street, and later it was in 17 Chequergate, a building which was demolished when the Telephone Exchange complex was built.  Born in 1806, Bennett was the son of hairdresser and wig-maker Matthew Hubbard.  The family lived in Nichol Hill.  Bennett Hubbard was educated at Louth Grammar School.  He studied painting with William Etty (oils) and John Varley (watercolours), and attended the Living Model Academy in Soho Square.  Twenty-four of his works were exhibited at local art exhibitions, and he is reputed to have exhibited seven works at the Royal Academy.  In 1870, he died at the age of only 64.  It is clear that he was a valued remember of the Louth community.  He was fondly remembered, and a detail from his obituaries that is particularly memorable to me is that while painting he wore a flowery dressing gown.

We have several of Bennett Hubbard’s works in Louth Museum.  Some of his smaller paintings are on display in the museum for the 2026 season.  Others are large oil portraits, a typical example, shown here, is that of linen draper Nathaniel Batterham (b 1782, d 1856), who until 1851 ran a linen and drapery business in the building that we now know as Argos in Eastgate.  We see Mr Batterham formally dressed, seated in a leather armchair, and very helpfully holding a letter addressed to himself.  Several persons painted by Hubbard are sadly unidentified.  There would have been no need for their name to be written on the back of the painting, as everyone at that time would have recognised them.

Bennett Hubbard also undertook commissions to paint prestigious animals such the impressive heifer “Flower” (see blog December 2016).  Another animal of similar proportions “The Habertoft Heifer” is on display in the Usher Gallery in Lincoln.  His other works include some local scenes and watercolour sketches undertaken in Wales and Hampstead Heath (see image).