PAINTING PALACE
Source Supplier of Oil Paintings

Thomas Sidney Cooper was born in Canterbury in 1803. His early life was marred by poverty. He was educated at the RA schools, where he was encouraged by Sir Thomas Lawrence. In 1827 he moved to Brussels where he taught art. At this time he met the animal painter Verboeckhoven, who strongly influenced his work. In 1831 Cooper returned to London, and he first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1833, and his last picture was exhibited in 1902, the year of his death. Therefore he started to exhibit at the RA four years before the accession of Queen Victoria, and exhibited his last picture a year after her death. In the 1840s Cooper worked often with C R Lee, who painted the rural backgrounds, whilst Lee subsequently painted the cattle and sheep for which he became so famous. His concentration on painting of farm animals earned him the nickname of “Cow Cooper.”

Cooper became ARA in 1845, and RA in 1867. He was like many other artists of the time a tremendously hard worker, and ultimately became very financially successful. His early struggles had had their effect, and he was known for his sarcasm and brusque manner. It is therefore something of a pleasure to record that in his private life he was a kind husband and indulgent father. He was also a man of some principle, in that he continued to paint individual canvases. He could simply have repeated himself and made a fortune. Cooper was commissioned by Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort to paint pictures of the royal herd of pedigree Jersey cows. Informed contemporary opinion said that his artistic prime was in the years 1846-1856. He died on the 8th February 1902, in the year of the Coronation of Edward VII.

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