Mary Delaney

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Mrs Mary Delaney achieved unexpected fame at the age of 71 in the court of George III and Queen Charlotte of England thanks to the 18th century decoupage craze. As a close friend of William Hogarth, Jonathan Swift and Sir Joseph Banks she was already a court favourite. In 1771, she began to create cut out paper artworks (decoupage) as was the fashion for ladies of the court. Her works were exceptionally detailed and botanically accurate depictions of plants. She used tissue paper and hand colouration to produce these pieces. She created these works, calling them her "Paper Mosaics", from the age of 71 to 88 when her eyesight failed her. They can still be seen at the British Museum today.