Richard Cosway RA (1742? - 1821)
RA Collection: People and Organisations
Richard Cosway was born near Tiverton, Devon. Aged twelve, he was sent to London to train as an artist. He studied at the academy run by William Shipley, where fellow pupils included Ozias Humphry, who later also became a Royal Academician.
In 1760 Cosway embarked upon a career as an independent artist, swiftly establishing himself as a society portraitist. He produced miniatures and drawings ‘stained’ or ‘tinged’ with watercolour. In the 1760s, he exhibited regularly at the Society of Arts and the Free Society of Artists. These provided opportunities to showcase his ambitious oil portraits, rather than his fashionable miniatures and drawings.
The Royal Academy, founded in 1768, elected few miniaturists, a possible reason for why Cosway chose to exhibit his oil paintings. In 1769 Cosway was admitted as a student to the Academy schools (a prerequisite for later membership), leading to his election as one of the first Associates in 1770. He became a full Member in 1771, exhibiting in the annual exhibition until 1806. In Zoffany’s group portrait of the Academicians (1771-2), Cosway occupies a prominent position on the far right, painted full-length with an elegant and refined appearance.
In the 1780s Cosway married the artist and musician Maria Hadfield. They operated a fashionable salon from their Pall Mall residence, with the Gainsboroughs as their immediate neighbours. During this time, Cosway attracted the patronage of George, Prince of Wales (later George IV) for whom he worked for the next 30 years, producing numerous paintings of the Prince and his close circle.
The most fashionable portrait miniaturist of the late eighteenth century, Cosway’s mature style epitomised early Regency taste. Cosway was prolific, creating up to twelve portraits in a single day. He also collaborated with engravers to reproduce his work for a wider public.
Cosway was also renowned as a connoisseur, virtuoso and collector. He assembled an outstanding art collection including works by Rubens alongside valuable armour, furniture and decorative objects. Following his death in 1821, this much-admired collection was sold at auction, where Sir John Soane bought over 30 objects for his own collection.
Profile
Born: 1742? in Devon
Died: 4 July 1821
Nationality: British
RA Schools student from 9 August 1769
Elected ARA: 27 August 1770
Elected RA: 15 March 1771
Gender: Male
Preferred media: Painting and Miniature painting
Works by Richard Cosway in the RA Collection
2 results
Works after Richard Cosway in the RA Collection
7 results
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Henry Dawe
Rinaldo and Armida
Mezzotint
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After Richard Cosway RA
Portrait of Mrs Cosway, 1791
Stipple engraving
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After Richard Cosway RA
'Melania' [i.e. Mrs Mary Robinson]
Stipple engraving
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After Richard Cosway RA
Self-portrait, published ca. 1832?
Stipple engraving
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After Richard Cosway RA
Portrait of Paul Sandby, R.A.
Stipple engraving
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After Richard Cosway RA
Mr. & Mrs Cosway, 1 June 1789
Stipple engraving
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Francesco Bartolozzi RA
Venus and Adonis, 1778
Stipple engraving
Works associated with Richard Cosway in the RA Collection
14 results
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George Dance RA
Portrait of Richard Cosway, R.A., 6 April 1793
Pencil with black, pink and blue chalks on cream wove paper
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Henry Singleton
The Royal Academicians in General Assembly, 1795
Oil on canvas
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Conrad Martin Metz
Pietá attributed to Michelangelo, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Leda and the Swan attributed to Raffaello , 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Hercules and the Nemean Lion attributed to Giulio Romano, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Perseus Freeing Andromeda attributed to Giulio Romano , 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Female figure with a lion, a horse and an aries attributed to Giulio Romano, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Madonna and Child attributed to Annibale Carracci, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Two putti holding a palm leave attributed to Taddeo Zuccari, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
The death of Adonis attributed to Giulio Romano, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
God creating the earth attributed to Parmigianino, 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Sacrifice scene attributed to Raffaello , 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Nativity attributed to Federico Barocci , 1789
Etching and aquatint
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Conrad Martin Metz
Head of woman and other figures in the background attributed to Michelangel, 1789
Etching and aquatint
Associated books
5 results
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Vincenzo Cartari
Le Imagini De I Dei De Gli Antichi, Nelle Quali Si Contengono gl'Idoli, Riti, Ceremonie, & altre cose appartenenti alla Religione de gli Antichi, Racolte dal Sig. Vincenzo Cartari, con la loro espositione, & con bellissime & accommodate figure novamente ristampate. Et con esservi citati i luoghi de gli auttori stessi, di donde molte cose sono state cavate, con molta diligentia riviste, & corrette. - In Lione: 1581.
03/2239
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Richard Morton Paye
Etchings, by & from the most esteem'd English artists - [s.l.]: c.1875]
05/341
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Karl Theodor von Dalberg
Périclès : de l'influence des beaux-arts sur la félicité publique / par Charles d'Alberg - A Parme: 1811
04/3323
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George C. Williamson
Richard Cosway R.A. - London: 1905
08/3591