Biographies

Arthur Stockdale Cope (1857 – 1940)

His father was Charles West Cope, a successful history and genre painter. Young Cope trained at Carey’s Art School before moving to the Royal Academy schools. He went on to establish his own portrait practice, with a prestigious roll-call of sitters, ranging from Kings Edward VII, George V and Edward VIII, to Kaiser Willhelm II and the Archbishop of Canterbury. His clever use of fluid paint, striking colour and harsh artificial lighting, were reminiscent of Walter Sickert‘s style. In addition to his busy painting practice, Cope established an art school in South Kensington and Vanessa Bell was among his pupils.