Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse Sarah Siddons as the Tragic Muse is a 1784 oil painting by Joshua Reynolds. Mrs. Sarah Siddons: Sarah Siddons was a well-known actress of the 18th century who became famous for her role as Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth. Born Sarah Kemble, aged 18 she married William Siddons, also an actor, and they had seven children of who only two survived. Sarah's parents sent her to work as a lady's maid and with this job she was exposed to the works of England's literary greats such as Milton and Shakespeare. She also began acting and had
Harriet Siddons on 2 November 1844. Harriet Siddons Harriet Siddons (née Murray; 16 April 1783 2 November 1844), sometimes known as Mrs Henry Siddons, was a Scottish actress and theatre manager. She was the daughter of actor Charles Murray and his second wife Ann Murray born at Norwich, Norfolk on 16April 1783. As a young child she appeared at Bath as Prince Arthur on 1July 1793. She married first to Joseph Leathley Cowell (1792-1863). Her first London appearance was at Covent Garden Theatre as Perdita in "The Winter's Tale", 12 May 1798. She remained at the theatre until the summer of 1805,