Abraham Cooper

Background

The son of a tobacconist, Abraham Cooper was born in Greenwich, London.

Career

At the age of thirteen Abraham Cooper became an employee at Astley"s Amphitheatre, and was afterwards groomed in the service of Sir Henry Meux. When he was twenty-two, wishing to possess a portrait of a favorite horse under his care, he bought a manual of painting, learned something of the use of oil-colours, and painted the picture on a canvas hung against the stable wall. His master bought it and encouraged him to continue in his efforts.

Abraham Cooper accordingly began to copy prints of horses, and was introduced to Benjamin Marshall, the animal painter, who took him into his studio, and seems to have introduced him to the Sporting Magazine, an illustrated periodical to which he was himself a contributor.

Cooper, although ill-educated, was a clever and conscientious artist. His colouring was somewhat flat and dead, but he was a master of equine portraiture and anatomy, and had some antiquarian knowledge. He had a special fondness for Cavalier and Roundhead pictures.

Achievements

• In 1814 Abraham Cooper exhibited his Tam O"Shanter, and in 1816 he won a prize for his Battle of Ligny.

Connections

associate:

Marston Moor