Richard Cosway
(1742-1821), Miniature painterSitter 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.
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, circa 1780-1782
NPG 5890
Maria Louisa Catherine Cecilia Cosway (née Hadfield)
by Richard Cosway
pencil and watercolour, 1781-1785
NPG 7036
Anne Seymour Damer (née Conway)
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, 1785
NPG 5236
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, circa 1789
NPG L176
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
by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, 1792
NPG 5389
Anne Merry (née Brunton) as Horatia in Whitehead's 'The Roman Father'
by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by John Bell, after Richard Cosway
etching, published 20th October 1792
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.40
Henry Phipps, Viscount Normanby and Earl of Mulgrave
attributed to Richard Cosway
watercolour, circa 1794
NPG 2630
by Richard Cosway
pencil and watercolour, circa 1801
NPG 2941
by Pierre Condé, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D38941
by John Raphael Smith, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 11 October 1771
NPG D41695
by John Raphael Smith, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 11 October 1771
NPG D4242
by Joseph Saunders, published by Henry Bryer, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 24 February 1774
NPG D36159
Lady Anne Barnard (née Lindsay)
by Walker & Cockerell, published by Smith, Rider and Co, after Richard Cosway
photogravure, (circa 1775-1800)
NPG D14275
Richard ('Hellgate') Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore
by J. Jehner, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 1778
NPG D21480
by Richard Cosway, published by Charles Townley
etching, published 4 June 1782
NPG D19158
Lady Amelia Hume (née Egerton)
by and published by Valentine Green, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 1 January 1783
NPG D36383
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1783
NPG D968
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