Frank C Cowper (1877–1958)

Frank Cadogan Cowper was an English painter and illustrator of portraits, historical and literary scenes, described as “The last of the Pre-Raphaelites”. Cowper was born in Wicken, Northamptonshire, son of an author and early pioneer of coastal cruising in yachts, Frank Cowper, and grandson of the rector of Wicken.

He first studied art at St John’s Wood Art School in 1896 and then went on to study at the Royal Academy Schools from 1897 to 1902. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1899, and achieved critical success two years later with his “An Aristocrat answering the Summons to Execution”, Paris 1791 (1901).

In 1902, he spent six months studying under Edwin Austin Abbey before travelling to Italy. He worked in both watercolours and oils, and also worked as book illustrator – providing the illustrations for Sir Sidney Lee’s The Imperial Shakespeare.

Cowper contributed to a mural in the Houses of Parliament in 1910 along with Byam Shaw, Ernest Board and Henry Arthur Payne. As art fashion changed, Cowper increasingly exhibited his portrait paintings but still continued to produce historical and literary works. 

He retired from London to Gloucestershire. His “The Ugly Duckling”, was voted the favourite painting by visitors to the Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum in 2005.