Nathan Cooper Branwhite (c. 1775 – 18 March 1857) was an English miniature portrait painter, watercolourist and engraver who was a member of the

Bristol School The Bristol School (or Bristol School of Artists) is a term applied retrospectively to describe the informal association and works of a group of artists working in Bristol, England, in the early 19th century. It was mainly active in the 1820 ...

of artists. He was Bristol's leading miniature portrait painter in the 1820s.

Life

Branwhite was born in

St Albans St Albans () is a cathedral city in Hertfordshire, England, east of Hemel Hempstead and west of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hatfield, north-west of London, south-west of Welwyn Garden City and south-east of Luton. St Albans was the first major ...

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...

, the son of a poet, Peregrine Branwhite, and became a pupil of

Isaac Taylor Isaac Taylor (17 August 1787 – 28 June 1865) was an English philosophical and historical writer, artist, and inventor. Life He was the eldest surviving son of Isaac Taylor of Ongar. He was born at Lavenham, Suffolk, on 17 August 1787, and m ...

. He exhibited 13 miniatures at the

Royal Academy The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its pur ...

between 1802 and 1828. He was also a stipple engraver. By 1810 he was living in Bristol. He participated in the sketching activities of the Bristol School and was a friend of Edward Bird and

James Johnson James Johnson may refer to: Artists, actors, authors, and musicians *James Austin Johnson (born 1989), American comedian & actor, ''Saturday Night Live'' cast member * James B. Johnson (born 1944), author of science nonfiction novels *James P. Joh ...

. In 1824 he was one of the organisers of the first exhibition of local artists at the new

Bristol Institution Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

. In 1832 he exhibited a number of works at the first exhibition of the newly formed

Bristol Society of Artists Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in S ...

, also at the Bristol Institution. Branwhite died on 18 March 1857 in Clifton, Bristol. He had at least four children. His sons Nathan (1813–94) and

Charles Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English language, English and French language, French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic, Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*k ...

(1817–80) were both artists.

References

External links

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branwhite, Nathan Cooper 1775 births 1857 deaths 18th-century English painters English male painters 19th-century English painters People from St Albans 19th century in Bristol English watercolourists Portrait miniaturists English engravers Artists from Bristol 19th-century English male artists 18th-century English male artists