I04 



ABRAHAM COOPER, R.A. 



(Born 17S7. Died 1S68.) 



A BRAHAM COOPER was born on the 8th 

 -^^ September, 17S7, in Red Lion Street, 

 Holborn, where his father carried on business as 

 a tobacconist. The elder Cooper was afterwards 

 an innkeeper at Holloway, and at one period 

 followed the same calling at Edmonton. While 

 still at school the youth's talent displayed itself 

 in the sketches of horses, dogs and ships with 

 which he embellished his copy-books and margins ; 

 these differed much from the usual scribblings of 

 idle boyhood armed with a pencil. His artistic 

 gift was not observed, or if observed was not en- 

 couraged, and CoojDcr began life in Astley's Theatre, 

 of which his uncle, Mr. Davis, was at that time 

 manager. The precise nature of his duties is not 

 stated, but we may take it for granted that the 

 stables received much of his attention ; for when 

 he severed his connection with the theatre and 

 devoted himself to art, the first picture of which 

 we have record is that of an old horse named 

 Frolic, the property of Mr. Henry Meux, of 



