Original works of art

Richard Cosway (1742-1821) was predominantly a portrait painter. He exhibited at the Society of Artists in 1700 and the Free Society of Artists. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769, becoming an associate the following year. He began to exhibit at the Royal Academy in 1771.

Cosway had a precocious talent for drawing and studied at Shepley's Drawing School in London where he received several prizes. He also attended the Richmond House Academy. While he painted some religious as well as historical scenes, his forte was the creation of small scale drawings which have a minimal use of color. Known at the time as "stained water colors".