art

Sarah Biffen (1784 – 1850) was a Victorian English painter born with no arms and only vestigial legs. She nevertheless taught herself to write, paint, sew, and use scissors with her mouth. This is a self- portrait she painted using her teeth.

Sarah Biffen was born in 1784 to a family of farmers in East Quantoxhead, Somerset, with no arms and undeveloped legs. Despite her handicap, Biffen learned to read, and later was able to write using her mouth.

Around the age of 13, her family apprenticed her to a man named Emmanuel Dukes, who exhibited her in fairs and sideshows throughout England.

At some point during the time, she learnt to paint holding the paint-brush in her mouth. During this period, she held exhibitions, sold her paintings and autographs, and took admission fees to let others see her sew, paint and draw.

She drew landscapes or painted portrait miniatures on ivory with contemporaries praising her skill. Her miniatures were sold for three guineas each, however, Biffen may have received as little as £5 a year while she was with Dukes.