Edward John Cobbett (1815–1899) was an English watercolour and oil painter.
Background
Cobbett was born in Marylebone, London, in 1815.[1][2][nb 1] He was a member of the Savage Club in his younger days, "when Bohemianism and exclusiveness were the purport of all its rules".[3] He had a "considerable circle of artistic friends ... he was to the last generation of artistic Bohemians well known".[4] In 1971 and 1881 he was living at 20 Oakley Square, St Pancras, London, with his wife Mary Anne née Haynes and four daughters including Theodosia Mary Ann Cobbett (born 1841),[nb 2] Phoebe Maria Cobbett (born 1849),[nb 3] Edith Haynes Cobbett (born 1856),[nb 4] and Gertrude Winifred Cobbett (born 1862).[nb 5][5] He described himself as an "artist, figure and landscape".[nb 6]
Cobbett was originally a wood carver, and at the time of his death in 1899, some of his carving could still be seen in the choir of York Minster.[3] However when he was twenty years old he became a painter.[3]
Cobbet was a pupil of Joseph William Allen.[2][1] "He quickly made a name for himself as one of the chief exponents of the rustic school of painting which had a great vogue from about the middle of the century to the early 'eighties".[3] He worked in London and Addlestone, Surrey.[8]
Works
Cobbett was known for idyllic rustic scenes and depictions of children.[9]