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Richard Cosway

(1742-1821), Miniature painter

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.

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King George IV, by Richard Cosway - NPG 5890

King George IV

by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, circa 1780-1782
NPG 5890

Warren Hastings, by Richard Cosway - NPG 6286

Warren Hastings

by Richard Cosway
watercolour and bodycolour on ivory, 1787
On display in Room 5 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 6286

King William IV, by Richard Cosway - NPG L176

King William IV

by Richard Cosway
watercolour on ivory, circa 1789
NPG L176

Richard Cosway, after Richard Cosway - NPG 1678

Richard Cosway

after Richard Cosway
oil on mahogany panel, based on a work of circa 1790
NPG 1678

Anne Merry (née Brunton) as Horatia in Whitehead's 'The Roman Father', by William Satchwell Leney (Lenney), published by  John Bell, after  Richard Cosway - NPG L269.B8.40

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

Sir John Henry Moore, 2nd Bt, by Pierre Condé, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D38941

Sir John Henry Moore, 2nd Bt

by Pierre Condé, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, late 18th century
NPG D38941

Mrs Sidney, by John Raphael Smith, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D41695

Mrs Sidney

by John Raphael Smith, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 11 October 1771
NPG D41695

Mrs Sidney, by John Raphael Smith, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D4242

Mrs Sidney

by John Raphael Smith, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 11 October 1771
NPG D4242

Ann Elliot as Minerva, by Joseph Saunders, published by  Henry Bryer, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D36159

Ann Elliot as Minerva

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 - NPG D14275

Lady Anne Barnard (née Lindsay)

by Walker & Cockerell, published by Smith, Rider and Co, after Richard Cosway
photogravure, (circa 1775-1800)
NPG D14275

Charles James Fox, by Richard Cosway, published by  Charles Townley - NPG D19158

Charles James Fox

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 - NPG D36383

Lady Amelia Hume (née Egerton)

by and published by Valentine Green, after Richard Cosway
mezzotint, published 1 January 1783
NPG D36383

Frances Abington (née Barton), by Francesco Bartolozzi, after  Richard Cosway - NPG D968

Frances Abington (née Barton)

by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1783
NPG D968

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