Sellingantiques.co.uk Logo
 942 visitors today 0 antiques approved today
ANTIQUE #SA1081715

Thomas Sidney Cooper Ra, Cow & Sheep In A Landscape - Antique Watercolour

£795    $1,007    €956
This charming mid-19th-century watercolour by British artist Thomas Sidney Cooper RA (1803-1902) depicts two sheep and a cow in a landscape. Cooper was a distinguished British painter of landscapes, animals and portraits who became one of the foremost masters of his genre despite facing extraordinary circumstances. He was affectionately known as “Cow Cooper”.
 
Born in Canterbury, Kent, his early years were marked by abject poverty as his father, William Cooper, deserted the family, leaving his mother to raise five children alone. Food prices were high due to the effects of the Napoleonic War and he was encouraged to learn a gainful trade to generate much-needed income.
 
At 12 years old, he began an apprenticeship as a coach builder, during which he was taught the basics of mixing colours. He did so while continuing to sketch from nature - escaping into the surrounding countryside at every opportunity. He also undertook numerous drawings of Canterbury Cathedral with many of these sold to the clergy and occasional passing aristocrats. In his 1890 autobiography, he recalls being provided with pencils and paper by the illustrator, George Cattermole RWS (1800-1868), who took pity on the state of his materials.
 
Cooper was determined to persevere with his artistic pursuits, despite the wishes of his mother, and, by chance, happened to impress a local painter of theatrical scenery. Despite being gravely ill, ‘Mr Doyle’ taught the aspiring lad, who subsequently gained work at a travelling theatre company.
 
Following his time with the theatre, his uncle took him to London, where he first studied the sculptures at the British Museum before enrolling as a ‘probationer’ at Royal Academy schools. Henry Fuseli RA (1741-1825) was his teacher during this period whereby his primary task was to study the works of antiquity. Possessing a ‘good eye’, his drawings were met with much approval and he was admitted as a full student.
 
However, around 1825, while on the cusp of ach...
Antique #SA1081715, shown on this page, originates from 1850. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
1850
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
Loading Stripe ...
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
BRAVE FINE ART PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Brave Fine Art
Exquisite antique paintings that capture the imagination.
Gloucestershire
United Kingdom
TELEPHONE SELLER
01684 215986
EMAIL SELLER
EXTRA RESOURCES
HISTORIC TIMELINE OPTIONS