Richard Cooper, the elder
Richard Cooper the elder (1701–1764) was an English engraver, who for most of his career worked in Edinburgh.
Life
Cooper was born in London, and studied engraving under John Pine. On the death of his father he was able to visit Italy where he spent several years, studying the masters, becoming a competent artist, and forming a collection of drawings and prints.[1]
On his return to England Cooper went with a Mr. Guthrie, to Edinburgh where he settled as an engraver. He built a house in St. John Street, which he decorated with his own pictures. He took on apprentices including Robert Strange.[1]
Cooper died in 1764, and was buried in the Canongate churchyard, Edinburgh. W. Robinson painted his portrait, and Cooper engraved it himself. J. Donaldson engraved his portrait in mezzotint, and this is perhaps identical with a mezzotint portrait of him from a picture by G. Schroider.[1]
Works
Cooper is chiefly known for his engravings of contemporary portraits. Among those were:[1]
- John Taylor, oculist, after W. De Nune;
- William Carstares and Andrew Allan, both after W. Robinson;
- Sir Hugh Dalrymple, after W. Aikman;
- John Napier, the inventor of logarithms;
- George, Lord Jeffreys, and others.
He also engraved in mezzotint, examples being:[1]
- Archibald, duke of Argyll, after W. Aikman;
- John Dalrymple, earl of Stair, after Kneller;
- Lady Wallace, and others.
Cooper engraved anatomical plates for the Edinburgh Medical Essays, and book-plates, and other similar compositions.[1]
Family
About 1738 Cooper married Ann Lind, by whom he left a son, Richard Cooper the younger, who followed his father's profession.[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 12. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1887). "Cooper, Richard (d.1764)". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 12. London: Smith, Elder & Co.