Francis Cotes (1726-1770)
Francis Cotes was born in London, the eldest son of Robert Cotes, an apothecary. He first made his mark as a pastellist in 1748. He trained with the portrait painter George Knapton before setting up his own studio in his father's business premises in Cork Street, London. Robert Cotes' portraits displayed the influence of Rosalba Carriera and Jean-Etienne Liotard. During the 1760s Cotes turned his attention to oil painting and adopted Reynolds' portrait style, in contrast to Knapton's more conservative work. He became Reynolds' most serious competitor before the arrival of Thomas Gainsborough in London, after Cotes' premature death aged 44 in Richmond.
Francis Cotes portraits are represented in the Royal College, Cardiff; National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh; National Portrait Gallery, London; Tate, London; Royal Academy, London; Coram Foundation, London; Christchurch College, Oxford, and others.
Paintings for sale by Francis Cotes:
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