# Elizabeth Creed

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**Elizabeth Creed** (*née* Pickering; 1642–1728) was an English artist and philanthropist.

She was a daughter of Sir [Gilbert Pickering](/source/Sir_Gilbert_Pickering,_1st_Baronet), [Bart.](/source/Pickering_baronets), and Elizabeth Montagu, daughter of Sir [Sidney Montagu](/source/Sidney_Montagu_(MP,_died_1644)). She was a cousin of the poet [John Dryden](/source/John_Dryden), and a second cousin of [Samuel Pepys](/source/Samuel_Pepys).[1]

In 1668 she married [John Creed](/source/John_Creed_(naval_administrator)), of [Oundle](/source/Oundle) in [Northamptonshire](/source/Northamptonshire), and had eleven children. On his death in 1701 she occupied herself in painting as an [amateur](/source/Amateur), and graciously instructing young girls in fine needlework and other feminine arts.[2] Many churches in the neighbourhood of Oundle were decorated with [altarpieces](/source/Altarpiece) and various artistic adornments by her.[2] Monuments by her survive at [Barnwell](/source/Barnwell,_Northamptonshire) and St Mary's Church, [Titchmarsh](/source/Titchmarsh,_Northamptonshire).[3]

After another cousin, Edward Dryden, inherited the estate of [Canons Ashby](/source/Canons_Ashby_House) in 1708, she was tasked with the painting of what was then called the Painted Parlour as well as a piece for the Great Hall and a set of dummy boards.[4] At Drayton, in the collection of the Earls of Peterborough, was a portrait of the [first Earl of Sandwich](/source/Edward_Montagu,_1st_Earl_of_Sandwich); and Mrs. Creed's descendants possessed many [portraits](/source/Portrait_painting) and some pictures by her.[2] She died in May 1728.[2]

Samuel Pepys, who was not overly fond of her husband, admired Elizabeth: "very well-bred and comely", though inclined to be stout.

## Notes

1. ["The Pepys Family Tree (The Diary of Samuel Pepys)"](https://www.pepysdiary.com/encyclopedia/familytree/)

1. [Clayton, Ellen Creathorne](/source/Ellen_Creathorne_Clayton). *[English female artists](/source/English_female_artists), volume 2* (London, Tinsley brothers, 1876) p. 39 ff.

1. [Revd Theophilus Pickering (d. 1710) and John Dryden, Poet Laureate (d. 1700), Titchmarsh (Northamptonshire)](https://www.churchmonumentssociety.org/Monument%20of%20the%20Month%20Archive/2013-10.html). Church Monuments Society

1. Stobart, J. (2013) Inventories and the changing furnishings of Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, 1717-1819. Regional Furniture. 27, pp. 1-43. 0953-0800

## References

**Attribution:**

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Elizabeth Creed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Creed) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Creed?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.