Elizabeth Bamford was one of several women who sat for the head of the Constance, depicted in his painting 'Wicliffe Reading his Translation of the Bible to John of Gaunt, in the Presence of Chaucer and Gower.' She was the daughter of a family Brown socialised with frequently in the first few years after the death of his first wife, Elisabeth. They were perhaps connected with Elisabeth's family, the Bromleys. Brown often referred to 'Mr Bamford' in his diary; he is likely to have been 'James Bamford, silk manufacturer of Milk Street, Cheapside, whose portrait Brown had painted' in 1846 (Virginia Surtees, ed., 'The Diary of Ford Madox Brown,' p. 9). Brown also stayed at the Bamford's on the night of the Private View at the Free Exhibition to which he submitted Wycliffe reading his Translation of the Bible. His diary also records Elizabeth's brother Sam and another relative, William, visiting Brown several times at his studio but does not mention Elizabeth acting as a model. LM

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