Charles West Cope Biography | Oil Painting Reproductions

In 1828 Charles West Cope a student of the Royal Academy. He won a silver medal in 1829 from the Society of Arts, and a medal from the Royal Academy Life School, and thus free classes for life.

In 1832 Charles West Cope went to Paris and honed his skill by reproducing the Old Masters at the Louvre such as Titian, and Rembrandt, a practice many art students did at that time. In 1833 his painting The Golden Age was exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time. In September of that year, he went to Italy for two years, making a living by painting on commission. His artistic creation The Firstborn was finished in Florence and shown at the British Institution.

After returning to England, he used his landlord and family as models. He completed Paolo and Franceses exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1837 and Osteria Di Campagna, displayed in 1838, was sold for a considerable sum.

Charles West Cope submitted designs for a competition to decorate the inside of the Houses of Parliament. In 1843, his preliminary drawing The First Trial by Jury earned him 300 pounds in prize money (equal to US$35.000 today). The following year he presented another design called 'Meeting of Jacob and Rachel,' and was one of six painters commissioned in July of that year to prepare preliminary drawings, colored sketches, and specimens of fresco painting for the decoration of the House of Lords. He also received another 400 pounds prize for his design of Prince Henry Acknowledging the Authority of Judge Gascoigne. Cope received a commission to execute this design in fresco, and also another of Edward the Black Prince receiving the Order of the Garter. These commissions kept him busy painting frescos in the House of Lords for many years.

In 1848 he became a Royal Academician after exhibiting a large work Cardinal Wolsey's Reception at Leicester Abbey. In 1849 he traveled to Italy and Germany to improve his knowledge and technique of fresco painting. In 1867 he became a professor of painting at the Royal Academy.

Art Movement: Victorian Classicism.
He Traveled To France, Italy, Germany, USA.
Artist's Biography compiled by Albert L. Mansour at The World's Artist, with text adapted from Wikipedia.