Background
Born at Gibraltar, he was third son of a merchant there, who later moved to Guernsey.
Born at Gibraltar, he was third son of a merchant there, who later moved to Guernsey.
There Cowper copied the pictures that were to be found in that island. He went to London, and, after lessons from Henry Sass, entered the Royal Academy schools. He gained the first silver medal, for the best copy of Poussin"s Rinaldo and Armida in the Dulwich Gallery.
He earned a livelihood by portrait painting.
In 1838 he began to show signs of consumption, which increased in 1839. After a visit to the south of France he returned to Guernsey, and died on 28 November 1839.