BRANWHITE, Nathan Cooper

1775 - 1857

Nathan Cooper Branwhite was born at Lavenham, Suffolk on 27 January 1775, the 1851 census incorrectly gives his birthplace as St Alban’s, Hertfordshire, eldest son of Peregrine Branwhite (1745-1794), a Lavenham schoolmaster, and his wife Sarah née Brooke. His father Peregrine was baptised at Lavenham on 22 July 1745 and remained at Lavenham until shortly before his death in London in 1794 and was a friend of artist Thomas Gainsborough of Sudbury. His father apprenticed Nathan under engraver Isaac Taylor (1759-1829) at Lavenham, and at the expiration of his apprenticeship Nathan went to 'seek his fortune' in London engraving for publishers but relinquished his engraving and commenced painting in oil and watercolour. Under the auspices and introduction of Dr Adam Clarke (1762–1832) he painted several miniatures for the 'Midland Magazine' and around 1812 he moved to Bristol to attend a Wesleyan Conference and to paint portraits of the ministers and remained at Bristol for the remainer of his life. A gifted artist who was a member of the Bristol School of artists, who painted his sitters with considerable vitality and character and was Bristol's leading miniature portrait painter in the 1820s and who exhibited engravings, miniatures, and small portraits at the Royal Academy from 1802. He participated in the sketching activities of the Bristol School and was a friend of artist Edward Bird (1772-1819) and James Johnson (1803-1834) and in 1824 one of the organisers of the first exhibition of local artists at the new Bristol Institution. In 1832, he exhibited several works at the first exhibition of the newly formed Bristol Society of Artists, also exhibiting at the Bristol Institution in Park Street, Bristol. He married at St Nicholas church, Bristol on 3 September 1812, Hannah Burnell (c1788-10 December 1867) and they had at least four children with sons Nathan (6 July 1813-29 March 1894) and Charles (7 June 1817-15 February 1880) both becoming artists. Nathan Cooper Branwhite died at Clifton, Bristol on 18 March 1857 and was buried in Arnos Vale Cemetery, Bristol. The correct details of his place of birth are also given in the 'Bury and Norwich Post' of 14 April 1857 and 'Bristol Times and Journal' and his father's death year of 1794 is recorded in 'Suffolk Notes & Queries'

Royal Academy Exhibits
from [not given]
1802 603 Portrait of the Rev. P. Beau
from 4 City Square, London
1807 841 Portrait of Mr Lanchester
from Queen's Square, Bristol
1822 217 Portrait of H. H. Baily, Esq.
from 1 College Green, Bristol
1824 622 Portrait of the Dean of Bristol
         784 Portrait of G. Cumberland, Esq.
1825 743 Portrait of the Rev. Dr. Randolph
1828 816 Portrait of Dr. Spurzheim

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Works by This Artist