ture engraved by John Condé, of Mrs. Fitzherbert afterwards. His professional engagements at Carlton House were, it is said, so frequent that when residing in Pall Mall, Cosway had a private communication with Carlton Palace Gardens. He was appointed principal painter to his royal highness the Prince of Wales, and it was generally believed among artists that Cosway received from his royal patron in one year no less a sum than 10,000l. Owing to his wife's delicate health they went to Paris, where, at the instance of the Duchess of Devonshire, he painted the Duchess of Orleans and family and the Duchess of Polignac. They also visited Flanders together, but afterwards separated for some considerable time. During his latter years he endured great physical pain. Twice he was stricken with paralysis, and on 4 July 1821, when living at Edgware, he died suddenly while taking an airing in the carriage with his old friend Miss Udney. Cosway often expressed a wish to be buried either in St. Paul's or near Rubens at Antwerp, but he lies in the vault, north wall, of Marylebone Church, where a monument, by R. Westmacott, was erected to his memory by his widow. The sculpture (see a print by Charles Picart, measuring 14 in. by 11½ in.) represents a medallion of the artist in right profile, surrounded by three figures of genii, emblematic of art, taste, and genius, with some verses by his brother-in-law, William Coombe (‘Dr. Syntax’).
In person Cosway was unlike his numerous portraits by himself, which have usually the air of a cavalier of romance. He occasionally painted in oil with a strong predilection for Correggio, and one of these productions he presented to his parish church of Tiverton. He showed, in his later years, a decided tendency towards mysticism, being a Swedenborgian and a strong believer in animal magnetism. He often alluded to mysterious conversations with the Virgin Mary, with Dante, and Apelles. His most popular portraits were small whole-length figures, executed in a somewhat sketchy style, with the exception of the head and hands, which were highly finished. He had a beautiful and clever daughter, Louisa Paolina Angelica. At the age of five her portrait, after Cosway, was engraved by Anthony Cardon. She possessed a natural taste for drawing and music, and was set by her father to study Hebrew when ten years old, in order that she might read the Bible in the original. She died young. His own portraits have been engraved by J. Clarke, Mariano Bovi, William Daniell, and R. Thew. About 1770 Dighton drew a caricature of Cosway, afterwards engraved by Richard Earlom in mezzotint, and published by Bowles and Carver. It is called ‘The Macaroni Painter, or Billy Dimple sitting for his Picture’ (see Catalogue of Satirical Prints in the British Museum, 1883, iv. 712, No. 4520). There is in the National Portrait Gallery a miniature of himself in water colours painted by himself (4 in. by 3 in.). In the British Museum there are several, but slight, sketches by his hand, and at Blenheim three portraits, viz. George Spencer Churchill, fourth duke of Marlborough, George, fifth duke of Marlborough, and his brother, Lord Charles S. Churchill, when boys, in fancy costume, and a fancy portrait of Lady Caroline Spencer Churchill, daughter of George, fourth duke. To these may be added the following compositions, portraits, &c., engraved in mezzotint: a portrait of James Hutton, engraved by J. R. Smith; ‘Wisdom directing Beauty and Virtue to Sacrifice at the Altar of Diana,’ engraved by J. R. Smith. The figures in this picture are portraits of Lady Margaret Corry, Lady Harriet Butler, and Juliana, countess of Carrick; ‘Sigismond,’ engraved by Blackmoore; Lady Hume, by V. Green; Miss Elliot, in the character of Minerva, by I. Saunders; ‘Love,’ by I. G. Fluck; and ‘Europa,’ by J. R. Smith. In the stipple manner: ‘Infancy,’ by C. White; ‘The Royal Infant,’ by F. Bartolozzi; Caroline, Princess of Wales, and the Princess Charlotte, by F. Bartolozzi; the Right Honourable Lady Anna Maria Stanhope, by A. Cardon; Madame Récamier, by A. Cardon; Major-general R. C. Ferguson, M.P., by A. Cardon; Frederick, duke of York, by G. Hadfield; George, prince of Wales, by J. Condé; and others engraved by I. S. Agar, I. Godefroy, G. Minasi, W. Sharp, L. Salliar, C. Townley, &c. A book entitled ‘A Miscellaneous Metaphysical Essay; or, an Hypothesis concerning the Formation and Generation of Spiritual and Material Beings, &c. By an Impartial Inquirer after Truth,’ London, 1748, 8vo, is erroneously ascribed to Cosway in the British Museum Library Catalogue. The sale of his collection of drawings and prints took place at Stanley's 14 Feb. (eight days) 1822. He stamped these drawings with the letters ‘C. R.’ (see Fagan, Collectors' Marks, London, 1883, 8vo, No. 119).
[Art Journal, 1858, p. 268; Cunningham's Lives of British Painters, &c., London, 1833, 8vo, vi. 1; manuscript notes and catalogues in the British Museum.]
COSWORTH or COSOWARTH, MICHAEL (fl. 1600), translator of the psalms, born in 1568, was the son of John Cosworth, a London mercer, of a Cornish family, by
