Richard Cosway (1742-1821), Miniature painter
Sitter in 15 portraits
Artist associated with 96 portraits
Richard Cosway was the leading portrait miniaturist of the Regency era. His success was 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. Cosway enjoyed continuous patronage from the Prince. As these miniatures were often exhibited and engraved, Cosway had considerable influence over the official image of the Prince. Cosway exhibited his first miniatures in London in 1762 and was quickly in demand in fashionable circles. He married the Anglo-Italian artist Maria Hadfield in 1781 and together 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, (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
On display in Room 17 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 304
after Richard Cosway
oil on mahogany panel, (circa 1790)
NPG 1678
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)
by 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 Bestland, after Henry Singleton
stipple engraving, published 1802 (1795)
NPG D10716
by Charles 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
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
by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 1 June 1811 (6 April 1793)
NPG D14454
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
Category
Art
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Artists and artisans
Regency miniaturists
Places
Devon
London
Related pages
- Only Connect - installation video
- Only Connect
- Only Connect - Richard Cosway <> Emma Hamilton
- Only Connect - Richard Cosway <> Maria Cosway
- Only Connect - Richard Cosway <> Ludwig Van Beethoven
- Only Connect - Richard Cosway <> Thomas Jefferson
- Only Connect - Richard Cosway <> Horatio Nelson
- Self image: making a self-portrait (2)
- Self image: basic materials and techniques (2)
- Changing Impressions: The conservation process
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