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Mary Moser (27 October 1744-2 May 1819) was an
England|English painter and one of the most
celebrated women artists of 18th century Britain.
One of only two female founding members of the
Royal Academy (1768), Moser is particularly noted
for her depictions of flowers.

London-born, Moser was trained by her
Switzerland|Swiss-born artist and vitreous
enamel|enameller father George Michael Moser
(1706-1783) and her talents were evident at an
early age: she won her first Society of Arts medal
at 14, and regularly exhibited flower pieces, and
occasional history paintings, at the Society of
Artists. Ten years later, however, her thirst for
professional recognition led her to join with 35
other artists (including her father) in forming
the Royal Academy, and, with Angelica Kauffmann,
she took an active role in proceedings.

In a group portrait by Johann Zoffany, "The
Academicians of the Royal Academy" (1771-2),
members are shown gathered around a nude male
model at a time when women were excluded from such
training in order protect their modesty. So that
Moser and Kauffman could be included, Zoffany
added them as portraits hanging on the wall.

Moser was also the subject of a portrait by George
Romney (painter)|George Romney (c. 1770), acquired
by the National Portrait Gallery in London in
2003.

In the 1790s, Moser received a prestigious
commission from Charlotte of
Mecklenburg-Strelitz|Queen Charlotte to complete a
floral decorative scheme for Frogmore|Frogmore
House  in Windsor, Berkshire. This was to prove
one of her last professional works; following
marriage to a Mr. Hugh Lloyd in 1793 she retired
and began exhibiting as an amateur (including
works at the Royal Academy until 1802).

(After Moser's death in 1819, no further women
were elected as full members of the Academy until
Dame Laura Knight in 1936.)