Peter Cross (circa 1645-1724)

Artist of 4 portraits
Peter Cross was the son of a freeman of the Drapers' Company and was probably born in London. It is not known how Cross learned miniature painting, but early in his career he won a number of important commissions, and in 1678 succeeded Nicholas Dixon as limner-in-ordinary (miniature painter) to the king. For many years, it was thought that there were two separate artists, Lawrence Cross and Peter Cross. This was the result of a misinterpretation of Peter Cross's later elaborate curling monogram that seems to read 'LC', and also because of confused references by George Vertue, an early 18th century collector of facts about British art.