Framed sketch entitled ‘A Lady Standing in a Garden’ by Richard Cosway RA

Collection

Museum of Enfield

Object number

Bc1580

Object name

Drawing

Date

c.1794

Display caption

This beautiful, peaceful sketch could be an illustration of one of Jane Austin’s heroines but has a very dramatic story associated with it. The creator, Richard Cosway, was principal painter for the Prince of Wales, a founding member of the Royal Academy, and was married to pioneering artist Maria Cosway. Richard and Maria employed a freed Ghana enslaved man Ottobah Cugoano in their home as a model. Cugoano was an author who became a prominent figure in the abolition movement and, with the Cosway’s support, enlisted the support of famous artists to the cause. Ottobah Cugoano is now celebrated with a blue plaque and commemorations at the site of Cosway’s house on Piccadilly.

Richard and Maria Cosway spent time in Paris where Maria befriended future US President Thomas Jefferson and Angelica Schulyler Church (of Hamilton fame!!). Maria was also friends with the Revolutionary French artist Jacques Louis David and through them met Napoleon. While the identity of the person in this drawing is unknown, they do have a resemblance to known portraits by Richard of Maria, so I like to imagine this is a picture of a remarkable figure who was both an anti-slavery activist and friend of Thomas Jefferson.