Background
Richard Cosway was born and baptized in 1742 at Okeford, Tiverton, Devonshire, United Kingdom.
Richard Cosway was born and baptized in 1742 at Okeford, Tiverton, Devonshire, United Kingdom.
His father was master of Blundell's school, Tiverton, where Cosway was educated, and his uncle mayor of that town. He went to Thomas Hudson for his earliest instruction, but remained with him only a few months, and then attended William Shipley's drawing class, where he remained until he began to work on his own account in 1760. In 1769 he became a student at the newly established Royal Academy schools.
Cosway taught in Henry Parr's drawing school in London and in 1766 became a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists. He was an ardent reader of the works of Emanuel Swedenborg. Works by Cosway are in the National Portrait Gallery and the British Museum, London, but he is best known by the prints engraved after his paintings and drawings.
Cosway was married to Maria Cecilia Louisa Hadfield.