The Life & Works of Thomas Sidney Cooper – an Introduction

Alison Coles will give an illustrated talk introducing the life and works of Canterbury’s most famous Victorian artist, Thomas Sidney Cooper (1803-1902)- member of the Royal Academy of Arts of London (RA) and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

He was born in Canterbury and became one of the foremost animal and landscape painters of the Victorian period. The largest public collection of his paintings is owned by Canterbury City Council and housed in the Beaney Museum in the High Street. Examples are also held by the Tate Gallery, London and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

He was also a great philanthropist and most notably in 1882 he developed his private art lessons into a fully-fledged art school in Canterbury, located at his home and studio in St Peter’s Street, originally called the Canterbury Sidney Cooper School of Art and which he bequeathed to the people of Canterbury.

Find out more about his most famous works and his fascinating ‘rags to riches’ life story.

Refreshments will be available.

Image credit: Canterbury Museums & Galleries.