Born in London the son of a tobacconist and inn keeper. He received almost no financial support from his father from an early age and worked in Astley's Theatre under his uncle Davis, where he was employed in mimic battles and pageants. Spent much of his leisure time making sketches, and in 1809, without any instruction, succeeded in painting a favourite horse belonging to Sir Henry Meux so successfully that it was purchased by the owner. This was the start of an artistic career which eventually led to his being elected Royal Academician in 1820. Most of his pictures were of small dimensions and represented groups of horses and animals, field sports, and battles in olden time. He died at Greenwich. Stephens,J.F. (1828) makes a number of references to beetles in the collection of 'my friend A. Cooper RA'. In 1858 Cooper wrote to the EWI.:'I have duplicates of Cicindela germanica also Cleonus nebulosus and should be most happy to exchange them for Carabus intricatus or clathratus'. Two years later he is listed in the Ent. Ann. as being interested in 'British insects' and living at 19 New Millman Street, Guildford Street, London WC. Chalmers-Hunt, J.M. (1976) records that Cooper's collection of British insects was sold on 3 May 1869 by Stevens. The manuscript journal of Oliver E. Janson in the Cambridge University Museum states that it was bought by his father and formed 'part of the ... collection which he has recently ceded to me'. There are accounts of Cooper in most of the standard art reference works. (MD 3/02)
Dates
1787-1868