Art in England

Art schools and royal patronage provide a starting point for Dutton Cook's studies of artistic life in England. Drawing together historical essays and accounts of artists' careers, he considers how training, public taste and institutional support affect the arts. The opening examines an early plan to teach general subjects alongside practical skills in painting and other disciplines. Chapters listed in the collection include the rise of the Royal Academy, miniature painting, engraving and work for the stage.

In his discussion of Cosway, Cook looks closely at the ways a miniature portrait can please its sitter. Colour contrasts, the surface of ivory, softened features and elaborate headwear help explain both the painter's appeal and the critic's reservations. These details connect the craft of making pictures with the demands of fashionable society. Readers interested in art history can follow Cook's attention to technique while considering his broader concern with reputation, patronage and the uneven rewards of artistic ability.