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John Cowper, an Edinburgh beggar: 1756

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

John Cowper, an Edinburgh beggar

Maker(s)

Painter: Lizars, William Home (Attributed to)

Entities

Categories

Notes

History note: Mrs Clarkson Stanfield, who gave it to Charles Hargitt; Hargitt sale by his executors, Branch & Leete, Liverpool, 15-18 March 1881 (544); Mazzini Stuart, Liverpool; sold to Messrs Rayner MacConnal, London; anon. sale (=Rayner MacConnal), Christie's, 2 March 1934 (157), bt. Meatyard; bought from Meatyard's by Lord Clark

Measurements and weight

Depth: 6.5 cm
Height: 75.9 cm
Width: 62.8 cm
Width: 84.1 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (1935) by Clark, Kenneth

Note

Previously attributed to David Wilkie [1785-1841]

School or Style

British

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

Oil paint

Components of the work

Support composed of canvas
Frame Height 96.8 cm

Techniques used in production

Painting (image-making) : Oil on canvas

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: John Cowper, an old soldier, now a Beggar in Edinburgh 1805 aged 87
  • Location: Verso, stretcher
  • Method of creation: MS
  • Type: Label
  • Text: Sir David Wilkie R.A. 544. Portrait of John Cowper. 29 x 24. "An old soldier, now a beggar in Edinburgh. 1808. [sic]. Aged 87". This inscription, evidently written by the artist himself, in on the back of the picture. Presented to Mr Hargitt by Mrs. Clarkson Stansfield.
  • Location: Verso, stretcher
  • Method of creation: Printed
  • Type: Supporting information
  • Text: 16 FS 34 (and other marks illegible)
  • Location: Verso, stretcher
  • Method of creation: White chalk
  • Type: Stencil
  • Text: 196 FV
  • Location: Verso

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: 1756
Primary reference Number: 4026

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 17 October 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "John Cowper, an Edinburgh beggar" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/4026 Accessed: 2025-12-05 13:40:14

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/4026 |title=John Cowper, an Edinburgh beggar |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 13:40:14|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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