Killigrew, Anne

, “a Grace for beauty, and a Muse for wit,” as Wood says, was the daughter of Henry Killigrew, just recorded; and born in London, a little before the restoration. She gave the earliest discoveries of genius; which being improved by a polite education, she became eminent in the arts of poetry and painting. Dry. | den seems quite lavish in her commendation; but Wood assures us that he has not said any thing of her which she was not equal, if not superior to. She was a great proficient in the art of painting, and painted a portrait of the duke of York, afterwards James 11. and also of the duchess, to whom she was a maid of honour; which pieces are highly applauded by Dryden. She drew several historypieces, also some portraits for her diversion, and likewise some pieces of still-life. Mr. Becket did her picture in mezzotinto, after her own painting, which is prefixed to her poems. To these accomplishments she joined an exemplary piety, and unblemished virtue. This amiable woman died of the small-pox, June 1685, when only in her 25th year; on which occasion Dryden wrote an ode to her memory. The year after were printed and published her “Poems,” in a large thin quarto, which, besides the publisher’s preface, and Dryden’s ode, contains an hundred pages. She was buried in the Savoy chapel, where is a very neat monument fixed in the wall, with a Latin inscription on it, commemorating her beauty, accomplishments, virtue, and piety. ¹