Richard Cosway
(1742-1821), Miniature painterMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 16 portraits
Artist associated with 101 portraits
Richard Cosway was the leading portrait miniaturist of the Regency era. His success lay in an ability to enhance the beauty and elegance of all of his sitters. He painted his first portrait of George IV in 1780 and was appointed Painter to the Prince of Wales in 1785. Until the beginning of the Regency in 1811, Cosway enjoyed continuous patronage from the Prince, painting over fifty portraits for him and other members of the royal family. As these miniatures were often exhibited and engraved, Cosway had considerable influence over the official image of the Prince. He married the Anglo-Italian artist Maria Hadfield in 1781 and they much influenced London's fashionable elite and the art world.
The Academicians of the Royal Academy
by John Sanders, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
watercolour and ink, 1773, based on a work of 1772
NPG 1437
Key to 'The Academicians of the Royal Academy'
by John Sanders, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
pencil, circa 1773
NPG 1437a
by Richard Cosway
pencil and wash, circa 1790
NPG 304
after Richard Cosway
oil on mahogany panel, based on a work of circa 1790
NPG 1678
Richard Cosway ('The Miniature Macaroni')
published by Mary Darly
etching, published 24 September 1772
NPG D48069
The Academicians of the Royal Academy
by Richard Earlom, after Johan Joseph Zoffany
mezzotint, published 1773
NPG D21304
Richard Cosway; Maria Louisa Catherine Cecilia Cosway (née Hadfield); probably Ottobah Cugoano
probably by Thomas Rowlandson, formerly attributed to Richard Cosway
etching, 1784
NPG D34151
by Marino or Mariano Bovi (Bova), after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 20 March 1786
NPG D13726
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, (6 April 1793)
NPG D12058
by Charles Picart, after Richard Westmacott
stipple engraving, circa 1800-1825
NPG D19752
by Charles (Cantelowe, Cantlo) Bestland, after Henry Singleton
stipple engraving, published 1802 (1795)
NPG D10716
by Charles (Cantelowe, Cantlo) Bestland, after Henry Singleton
stipple engraving, published 1802 (1795)
NPG D36021
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 June 1811 (6 April 1793)
NPG D12165
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 June 1811 (6 April 1793)
NPG D14454
Mural monument to Richard Cosway
by Charles Picart, after Richard Westmacott
stipple engraving, 1821 or after
NPG D34152
by and published by Marino or Mariano Bovi (Bova), published by Emanuel Matthew Diemar, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 20 March 1786
NPG D19870
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