Samuel Cooper

Probably Mrs Samuel Cooper (1623-1693), the artist’s wife,

probably Mrs Richard Gibson, née Anne Shepherd (d. 1707), the artist's wife,

probably Susannah-Penelope Rosse (d. 1700), the artist's daughter,

probably Michael Rosse (d. circa 1735), her husband,

probably his sale, London, Cecil Street, April-May 1723, unknown lot number,

possibly (according to family tradition) Christopher Tower of Huntsmoor Park, Buckinghamshire (1657-1728),

possibly Christopher Tower (1692-1771),

possibly Christopher Tower (1747-1810),

possibly the Rev. William Tower of Weald Hall, Essex (1789-1847),

Mrs William Henry Harford, née Ellen Tower (1832-1907),

Hugh Wyndham Luttrell Harford (1862-1920),

Arthur Hugh Harford (1905-1985),

by descent to the present owner

We are very grateful to Neil Jeffares for his help in clarifying the early provenance of this collection. Please see his article ‘William Towers (-1678) art dealer and collector’

Neil Jeffares | Fairness, candour & curiosity – from finance to art history (wordpress.com)

The style of the collar worn by the sitter would suggest that this drawing dates to the early 1660s. The scalloped-edged cap is also consistent with the fashion of this period.

What is most remarkable about this drawing is the downward glance of the child. The choice to show the sitter in this way demonstrates a freshness of approach that only an artist of the innovative genius of Cooper could have conceived.   

In this ad vivum drawing the artist has eschewed contemporary hieratic conventions of child portraiture to create an image that captures the innocence and fragility of childhood.    

For further information on the work please refer to lot 8.