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The son of the Russian-born drawing master and watercolourist [[Alexander Cozens]], John Robert Cozens was born in London. He studied under his father and began to exhibit some early drawings with the [[Society of Artists of Great Britain|Society of Artists]] in 1767. In 1776 he displayed the large [[oil painting]], ”A Landscape with Hannibal in His March Over the Alps, Showing to His Army the Fertile Plains of Italy” (now lost) at the [[Royal Academy]] in London.<ref>Kim Sloan “Alexander and John Robert Cozens – The Poetry of Landscape” (1986).</ref> This painting was the only [[oil painting|oil]] that Cozens exhibited at the Academy and was the inspiration for [[J. M. W. Turner]]’s famous painting of 1812.<ref>C.R.Leslie “A Handbook for Young Painters” (1855)</ref> |
The son of the Russian-born drawing master and watercolourist [[Alexander Cozens]], John Robert Cozens was born in London. He studied under his father and began to exhibit some early drawings with the [[Society of Artists of Great Britain|Society of Artists]] in 1767. In 1776 he displayed the large [[oil painting]], ”A Landscape with Hannibal in His March Over the Alps, Showing to His Army the Fertile Plains of Italy” (now lost) at the [[Royal Academy]] in London.<ref>Kim Sloan “Alexander and John Robert Cozens – The Poetry of Landscape” (1986).</ref> This painting was the only [[oil painting|oil]] that Cozens exhibited at the Academy and was the inspiration for [[J. M. W. Turner]]’s famous painting of 1812.<ref>C.R.Leslie “A Handbook for Young Painters” (1855)</ref> |
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Between 1776 and 1779 he spent some time in [[Switzerland]] and [[Italy]], where he drew Alpine and Italian views. He travelled with [[Richard Payne Knight]] as far as Rome, where Cozens remain until 1779, when he returned to London. In 1782 he made his second visit to Italy, accompanied by the author [[William Thomas Beckford|William Beckford]], spending much time at [[Naples]]. His works show that he went as far as [[Sicily]]. In 1783 he returned to England.<ref>Mallalieu, 185-186</ref> It is on his Continental paintings that his fame largely rests. In 1789 he published a set of ”Delineations of the General Character … of Forest Trees”. He submitted his work to the Royal Academy but it was rejected, being judged as “not proper art”. |
Between 1776 and 1779 he spent some time in [[Switzerland]] and [[Italy]], where he drew Alpine and Italian views. He travelled with [[Richard Payne Knight]] as far as Rome, where Cozens remain until 1779, when he returned to London. In 1782 he made his second visit to Italy, accompanied by the author [[William Thomas Beckford|William Beckford]], spending much time at [[Naples]]. His works show that he went as far as [[Sicily]]. In 1783 he returned to England.<ref>Mallalieu, 185-186</ref> It is on his Continental paintings that his fame largely rests. |
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In 1789 he published a set of ”Delineations of the General Character … of Forest Trees”. He submitted his work to the Royal Academy but it was rejected, being judged as “not proper art”. |
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At the age of 42, three years before he died, he suffered a [[nervous breakdown]] and was committed to the [[Bethlem Royal Hospital]] asylum. The asylum’s chief physician, Dr. [[Thomas Monro (art collector)|Thomas Monro]], also a considerable collector and patron, recognised Cozens’ talent and bought his painting collection. Cozens died in London.<ref>Mallalieu, 185</ref> |
At the age of 42, three years before he died, he suffered a [[nervous breakdown]] and was committed to the [[Bethlem Royal Hospital]] asylum. The asylum’s chief physician, Dr. [[Thomas Monro (art collector)|Thomas Monro]], also a considerable collector and patron, recognised Cozens’ talent and bought his painting collection. Cozens died in London.<ref>Mallalieu, 185</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 19:04, 14 January 2026
English painter (1752–1797)
John Robert Cozens (1752 – 14 December 1797) was a British draftsman and painter of romantic watercolour landscapes.
Cozens painted striking watercolours which influenced Thomas Girtin and J. M. W. Turner (who made copies of many of them), and has been described as “perhaps the most poetic of English painters”.[1] Despite using a “very limited palette, usually blues, greys, and greens, [and] the simplest of compositions … there is a grandeur and simplicity about his best work which appeals directly to the heart”. John Constable described Cozens as “all poetry, the greatest genius that ever touched landscape.”[2]
In June 2010 Cozens’ Lake Albano (c.1777) sold at auction, at Sotheby’s in London, for £2.4 million, a record for any 18th-century British watercolour.[3]
The son of the Russian-born drawing master and watercolourist Alexander Cozens, John Robert Cozens was born in London. He studied under his father and began to exhibit some early drawings with the Society of Artists in 1767. In 1776 he displayed the large oil painting, A Landscape with Hannibal in His March Over the Alps, Showing to His Army the Fertile Plains of Italy (now lost) at the Royal Academy in London.[4] This painting was the only oil that Cozens exhibited at the Academy and was the inspiration for J. M. W. Turner‘s famous painting of 1812.[5]
Between 1776 and 1779 he spent some time in Switzerland and Italy, where he drew Alpine and Italian views. He travelled with Richard Payne Knight as far as Rome, where Cozens remain until 1779, when he returned to London. In 1782 he made his second visit to Italy, accompanied by the author William Beckford, spending much time at Naples. His works show that he went as far as Sicily. In 1783 he returned to England.[6] It is on his Continental paintings that his fame largely rests. There are a number of surviving sketchbooks from the second visit; the “Beaumont Album” has 215 drawings and belonged to Sir George Beaumont and his descendents from around the time of Cozens’ death until 1967. It is now in the Yale Center for British Art.
In 1789 he published a set of Delineations of the General Character … of Forest Trees. He submitted his work to the Royal Academy but it was rejected, being judged as “not proper art”.
At the age of 42, three years before he died, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was committed to the Bethlem Royal Hospital asylum. The asylum’s chief physician, Dr. Thomas Monro, also a considerable collector and patron, recognised Cozens’ talent and bought his painting collection. Cozens died in London.[7]
His works are in most large English collections, and the largest American ones. The Victoria & Albert Museum has some 30 works,[8] and the Yale Center for British Art lists 342 works, though nearly all are pencil sketches.[9]
- Wilton, Andrew, The art of Alexander and John Robert Cozens, 1980, New Haven : Yale Center for British Art
- K. Sloan, Alexander and John Robert Cozens The Poetry of Landscape (1986)
- A. P. Oppe, Alexander and John Robert Cozens (1952)
