Betty W. Hubbard, Self Portrait

Hubbard enjoyed equestrian sports, and in this self-portrait, she presents herself in her riding jacket and hat. Quick, spontaneous strokes of warm brown fold and flow through her jacket, face, and hat. She appears alert and ready, about to move.

This painting may have been inspired by the great nineteenth-century French artist, Édouard Manet, who also painted women in equestrian costume. While in Paris, Hubbard often visited Manet's niece, Julie Manet, who was the daughter of Eugene Manet (Édouard's brother) and another great Impressionist artist, Berthe Morisot. Hubbard is known for her translation from the French of Berthe Morisot's letters, The Correspondence of Berthe Morisot (London: Lund Humphries, 1957).

Born Elizabeth Conrad Welsh on February 22, 1901, in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Betty studied with Arthur B, Charles (1880-1958), at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts, Henry  McCarter (1864-1942) and Daniel Garber (1880-1958) in summer sessions in Chester Springs, Pa and Ventnor, NJ. In 1934, Hubbard married New York artist Richard L. Hubbard, and for over 30 years they live and created art work in both New York City and Cape Cod.