Nathan Cooper Branwhite
Encyclopedia
Nathan Cooper Branwhite (c. 1775–1857) was an English
miniature portrait painter
, watercolourist and engraver
who was a member of the Bristol School
of artists. He was Bristol
's leading miniature portrait painter in the 1820s.
Branwhite was born in St Albans
, Hertfordshire
, the son of a poet, Peregrine Branwhite
, and became a pupil of Isaac Taylor. He exhibited 13 miniatures at the Royal Academy
between 1802 and 1828. He was also a stipple engraver. By 1810 he was living in Bristol. He participated in the sketching activities of the Bristol School and was a friend of Edward Bird
and James Johnson
. In 1824 he was one of the organisers of the first exhibition of local artists at the new Bristol Institution. In 1832 he exhibited a number of works at the first exhibition of the newly formed Bristol Society of Artists, also at the Bristol Institution.
Branwhite died on 18 March 1857 in Clifton, Bristol
. He had at least four children. His sons Nathan (1813–94) and Charles
(1817–80) were both artists.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
miniature portrait painter
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
, watercolourist and engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
who was a member of the Bristol School
Bristol School
The Bristol School is a term applied retrospectively to describe the informal association and works of a group of artists working in Bristol, England, in the early 19th century. It was mainly active in the 1820s, although the origins and influences of the school have been traced over the...
of artists. He was Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
's leading miniature portrait painter in the 1820s.
Branwhite was born in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, the son of a poet, Peregrine Branwhite
Peregrine Branwhite
-Life:Branwhite was son of Rowland Branwhite and Sarah his wife, and was baptised at Lavenham, Suffolk on 22 July 1745. He was brought up to the bombazine trade, which he carried on for some time at Norwich. He was not very successful, however, as he seems to have paid more attention to books than...
, and became a pupil of Isaac Taylor. He exhibited 13 miniatures at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
between 1802 and 1828. He was also a stipple engraver. By 1810 he was living in Bristol. He participated in the sketching activities of the Bristol School and was a friend of Edward Bird
Edward Bird
Edward Bird was an English genre painter who spent most of his working life in Bristol, where the Bristol School of artists formed around him....
and James Johnson
James Johnson (artist)
-External links:* *...
. In 1824 he was one of the organisers of the first exhibition of local artists at the new Bristol Institution. In 1832 he exhibited a number of works at the first exhibition of the newly formed Bristol Society of Artists, also at the Bristol Institution.
Branwhite died on 18 March 1857 in Clifton, Bristol
Clifton, Bristol
Clifton is a suburb of the City of Bristol in England, and the name of both one of the city's thirty-five council wards. The Clifton ward also includes the areas of Cliftonwood and Hotwells...
. He had at least four children. His sons Nathan (1813–94) and Charles
Charles Branwhite
Charles Branwhite was an English landscape painter.Son of Nathan Cooper Branwhite, he was born at Bristol in 1817, and there studied art under his father, beginning as a sculptor...
(1817–80) were both artists.