Richard Crosse (painter) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Crosse
Self-portrait in miniature, circa 1780 - Victoria & Albert Museum
Born	(1742-04-24)24 April 1742 Knowle, Devon, England
Died	May 1810 Knowle, Devon, England
Nationality	English
Known for	Painter of Portrait Miniatures

Richard Crosse (born 1742, died 1810) was a very important English artist. He was famous for painting tiny portraits called miniatures. He lived at the same time as other well-known miniature painters like John Smart, George Engleheart, Richard Cosway, and William Wood.

Early Life and Family

Richard Crosse was born on April 24, 1742, in a place called Knowle, in Devon, England. His father, John Crosse, was a lawyer, and his family was quite wealthy. Richard was completely deaf and could not speak, just like one of his sisters. He had at least six brothers and sisters.

Richard Crosse fell in love with his cousin, Sarah Cobley. However, she was already going to marry someone else. This made Richard very sad, and he never married anyone else. He lived and worked in London, on Henrietta Street, starting in 1760. His brother helped him by talking to his clients.

Later in life, in the late 1790s, Richard moved to Wells, Somerset. He lived with Sarah Cobley's brother. In 1807, Sarah visited her brother because she was very ill. Richard saw her again after many years and was very emotional. She passed away the next day. Richard Crosse died in May 1810, back at his family home in Knowle.

Becoming an Artist

Richard Crosse started painting as a hobby, which was common for wealthy people back then. When he was 16, he won an award from a new group called the 'Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce' in London.

After this, he moved to London to study art. He went to a new drawing school run by William Shipley, who also started the Society of Arts. He also studied at the Duke of Richmond's art gallery.

Professional Art Career

Crosse showed his paintings at important art shows in London. He exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1760 to 1796, the Free Society from 1761 to 1766, and the Royal Academy from 1770 to 1796. He lived and worked in Henrietta Street, in Covent Garden, London, from 1760. His brother helped him communicate with his clients because Richard could not hear or speak.

Even though he was deaf and could not speak, Richard Crosse was very successful. Many important people admired his work. His clients included the Prince of Wales and other dukes.

Richard Crosse mainly painted his miniatures using watercolor on ivory. Ivory is a material from elephant tusks that gives a beautiful glow to skin tones in paintings. Many of his miniatures were small, less than 2 inches tall. This was because painting with watercolor on the greasy surface of ivory was tricky, especially on larger pieces. By the 1780s and 1790s, he started using larger ivory pieces, some over 3.5 inches tall. His prices ranged from about 8 guineas for small works to 30 guineas for his biggest portraits.

Crosse's paintings are very detailed and lifelike. His miniatures often have a greenish-blue color, which might have been inspired by the artist Joshua Reynolds. Over time, some of the red colors in his paintings have faded a little. He usually did not sign his artwork.

During his time, it was fashionable for women to wear their hair high and often powdered. It's amazing how Crosse could fit a portrait of a lady with such tall hair onto a tiny piece of ivory. Men usually wore their hair pulled back into a ponytail or wore powdered wigs.

Richard Crosse was from a wealthy family and had his own money. He also earned a lot from his paintings. He was smart with his money, investing in property and stocks. This gave him a good income later in life. He stopped painting professionally in the late 1790s and passed away in 1810.

Examples of Crosse's Work

• 

  Richard Crosse, Portrait of an Unknown Man, around 1770, Victoria & Albert Museum

• 

  Richard Crosse, Portrait of an Unknown Woman, around 1780, Victoria & Albert Museum