Anne Killigrew excelled in multiple media, which was noted by contemporary poet, mentor, and family friend, John Dryden in his dedicatory ode to her. He addresses her as "the Accomplisht Young LADY Mrs Anne Killigrew, Excellent in the two Sister-Arts of Poësie, and Painting."[12] Indeed, Dryden uses Killigrew's accomplishments in the two sister arts as a major organizing feature of his Ode.[1][2]
Scholars believe that Killigrew painted a total of 15 paintings. Both her poems and her paintings emphasize women and nature, and many of her paintings display biblical and mythological imagery. Several of her poems reference her own paintings, including "St. John Baptist Painted by her self in the Wilderness, with Angels appearing to him, and with a Lamb by him", "HERODIAS Daughter presenting to her Mother St. JOHN's Head in a Charger, also Painted by her self", and "On a Picture Painted by her self, representing two Nimphs of DIANA's, one in a posture to Hunt, the other Batheing."[12] A list of paintings, published for Admiral Killigrew's Sale in 1727, included "Venus and Adonis"; "Satyr Playing the Pipe"; "Judith and Holiferness"; "A Woman's Head"; and "Venus attired by the Graces".[14]
Killigrew was skilled at portraits. James Winn has suggested that the faces of the Graces in "Venus attired by the Graces" resemble those in portraits known to be of Anne Finch, Mary of Modena and Anne Killigrew.[2] Today, as few as four of her paintings are known to exist. They include a self-portrait and a portrait of James, Duke of York.[3]
