Richard and Maria Cosway
One of only two etchings by Richard Cosway, this double portrait of the artist and his wife Maria echoes Rubens's famous self-portrait with Isabella Brandt. Likely made when the Cosways moved into Schomberg House in 1784 (a residence that overlooks London's Green Park), the image includes their servant Quobna Ottobah Cugoano (also known as John Steurat), a member of the "Sons of Africa" who published an anti-slavery book in 1787 titled "Thoughts and Sentiments on the Evil and Wicked Traffic of the Human Species."
Artwork Details
- Title: Richard and Maria Cosway
- Etcher: Richard Cosway (British, Oakford, Devon 1742–1821 London)
- Artist: In the manner of Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, Siegen 1577–1640 Antwerp)
- Sitter: Maria Cosway (British (born Italy), Florence 1759/60–1838 Lodi)
- Sitter: Richard Cosway (British, Oakford, Devon 1742–1821 London)
- Date: 1784
- Medium: Etching
- Dimensions: Image: 9 5/16 × 12 3/16 in. (23.6 × 30.9 cm)
Sheet (trimmed to plate): 10 7/8 × 13 11/16 in. (27.7 × 34.8 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: A. Hyatt Mayor Purchase Fund, Marjorie Phelps Starr Bequest, 1991
- Object Number: 1991.1274
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
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Richard Cosway
Richard Cosway
1788
Richard Cosway
Lavinia Spencer, Countess Spencer
ca. 1806
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1779
Richard Cosway
George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough [Marquess of Blandford]
1817–21
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