Voss
Self portrait of Margaret Betts, Bletchley Park
Self portrait of Margaret Betts, Bletchley Park
Regular price
£850.00 GBP
Regular price
Sale price
£850.00 GBP
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Date Created 20th Century
Size with Frame Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 26 in (66.04 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
Unidentified painter, this is a portrait of Margaret Betts 1924-2023 who was recruited into Bletchley Park to assist with the codebreaking of German and Japanese codes, she played down her part in the machine operating from 1943 to 1945. She helped in deciphering intercepted transfers and refrained from publicity and from publishing her memoirs, in private she was also a painter although we have found none of her works. This painting is signed at the bottom of the picture within the surrounding trim of the carpet, Voss seems to be the name supposed and the only painter we have traced so far is Andrew Voss a fellow artist from Suffolk where Margaret Betts had lived. Betts joined the Wrens early in the second World war at the age of 18 years old, and was apparently headhunted for Bletchley after she had performed well at school. She claimed her role was hum-drum and not as exciting as displayed in the films, she remained restrained from talking about her work until various documentaries appeared in the 1980's and then only minor issues were discussed, discreet to the end Margaret Betts was one of the unsung heroes of her generation. She is seated here within the surroundings of an artist studio the sitter is known but the painter until now has remained a mystery. However I received a message from Stephen Russell via 1stDibs with information of another painting of the same sitter, along with the name of 'Margaret Betts' in the same hand and with the same named inscription on the reverse side. We are now convinced that this painting is a self portrait and I suspect further confirmation will be arriving soon. Unfortunately we do not know the date the picture was painted.
