Francis CotesRA (20 May 1726 – 16 July 1770) was an English portrait painter, one of the pioneers of English pastel painting (or drawing), and a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768.
He was born in London, the eldest son of Robert Cotes, an apothecary (Francis's younger brother Samuel Cotes (1734–1818) also became an artist, specialising in miniatures). Cotes trained with portrait painter George Knapton (1698–1778) before setting up his own business in his father's business premises in London's Cork Street—learning, incidentally, much about chemistry to inform his making of pastels.
An admirer of the pastel drawings of Rosalba Carriera, Cotes concentrated on works in pastel and crayon (some of which became well known as engravings). After pushing crayon to its limit as a medium—although he was never to abandon it entirely—Cotes turned to oil painting as a means of developing his style in larger-scale works. In his most successful paintings, particularly those of the early 1760s, the oil paint is thinly applied, in imitation of his pastel technique, and imbued with charm, inviting comparisons with Allan Ramsay (1713–1784) and Sir Joshua Reynolds. They have clarity and warmth and possess a remarkable attention to costume.[1] In 1763, he bought a large house (later occupied by George Romney) in Cavendish Square. He also painted The Young Cricketer.
One of the most fashionable portrait painters of his day, Cotes helped found the Society of Artists of Great Britain and became its director in 1765. At the peak of his powers, Cotes was invited to become one of the first members of the Royal Academy, but died just two years later, aged 44, in Richmond.
He also taught pastel skills to John Russell, who described Cotes' techniques in his book The Elements of Painting with Crayon.
Referencesedit
^Bolton, Roy (2009). The Collectors : Old Master Paintings, London, Sphinx Books, pp. 68-71. ISBN978-1-907200-03-8
^"Biographical details Francis Cotes (painter/draughtsman; British; Male; 1726 - 1770)". British Museum. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
Neil Jeffares. Francis Cotes (Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, online edition)
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Cotes.
60 artworks by or after Francis Cotes at the Art UK site
Francis Cotes online (Artcyclopedia)
April 07, 2024
francis, cotes, 1726, july, 1770, english, portrait, painter, pioneers, english, pastel, painting, drawing, founding, member, royal, academy, 1768, stipple, engraving, cotes, after, pierre, Étienne, falconetlife, work, edit, nbsp, portrait, maria, walpole, cou. Francis Cotes RA 20 May 1726 16 July 1770 was an English portrait painter one of the pioneers of English pastel painting or drawing and a founding member of the Royal Academy in 1768 A stipple engraving of Cotes after Pierre Etienne FalconetLife and work edit nbsp Francis Cotes R A Portrait of Maria Walpole Countess Waldegrave Later H R H Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh 1736 1807 1765 oil on canvasHe was born in London the eldest son of Robert Cotes an apothecary Francis s younger brother Samuel Cotes 1734 1818 also became an artist specialising in miniatures Cotes trained with portrait painter George Knapton 1698 1778 before setting up his own business in his father s business premises in London s Cork Street learning incidentally much about chemistry to inform his making of pastels An admirer of the pastel drawings of Rosalba Carriera Cotes concentrated on works in pastel and crayon some of which became well known as engravings After pushing crayon to its limit as a medium although he was never to abandon it entirely Cotes turned to oil painting as a means of developing his style in larger scale works In his most successful paintings particularly those of the early 1760s the oil paint is thinly applied in imitation of his pastel technique and imbued with charm inviting comparisons with Allan Ramsay 1713 1784 and Sir Joshua Reynolds They have clarity and warmth and possess a remarkable attention to costume 1 In 1763 he bought a large house later occupied by George Romney in Cavendish Square He also painted The Young Cricketer nbsp Francis Cotes R A Portrait of Stephen Fox Strangways 1st Earl of IlchesterAfter 1746 the costumes in his pictures were mostly executed by the specialist drapery painter Peter Toms 2 One of the most fashionable portrait painters of his day Cotes helped found the Society of Artists of Great Britain and became its director in 1765 At the peak of his powers Cotes was invited to become one of the first members of the Royal Academy but died just two years later aged 44 in Richmond He also taught pastel skills to John Russell who described Cotes techniques in his book The Elements of Painting with Crayon References edit Bolton Roy 2009 The Collectors Old Master Paintings London Sphinx Books pp 68 71 ISBN 978 1 907200 03 8 Biographical details Francis Cotes painter draughtsman British Male 1726 1770 British Museum Retrieved 9 August 2012 Neil Jeffares Francis Cotes Dictionary of pastellists before 1800 online edition External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francis Cotes 60 artworks by or after Francis Cotes at the Art UK site Francis Cotes online Artcyclopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Cotes amp oldid 1208730156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
