Samuel Cooper 1609-1672

Samuel Cooper, described by Aubrey as the `prince of limners of his day,' is still justly regarded as one of the finest English portrait painters of the seventeenth century. Foskett gives a brief survey of Cooper's life and assesses the unique position held by the artist during a difficult period of British history. Born in the reign of Charles I, Cooper achieved fame during the Commonwealth - his miniature of Cromwell, warts and all, is one of his best-known works - and he remained in favour during the Restoration, when Charles II appointed him King's Limner...