THOMAS SIDNEY COOPER R.A. (BRITISH 1803-1902)HEAD OF A COW Oil on canvas 84 x 65cm (33 x 25½ in.)Provenance:Sale, Christie's, The Artist's Studio Sale, 12 April 1902, lot 123 (21 guineas to Bowden)Sale, Sotheby's, Belgravia, 27 March 1979, lot 110, as A Bull's HeadApollo Galleries, WesterhamKenneth J. Westwood; by whom loaned for exhibition in 1992 Sale, Christie's, London, 11 June 1993, lot 199Exhibited:Canterbury, Royal Museum, Early Drawings by Thomas Sidney Cooper, 1992, no. 59Literature:Kenneth J. Westwood, Thomas Sidney Cooper, His Life and Work (Somerset: David Leathers Publishing, 2011), Vol 1, p.169, no. O(1832)1Painted in 1832 this present lot is an early life-size head study by Thomas Sidney Cooper. What is particularly unusual is the dark classical background which makes the head particularly prominent. This work was once in the private collection of Kenneth J. Westwood, the author of Thomas Sidney Cooper, His Life and Work.

Relined. New stretcher providing good support. Inspection under UV reveals scattered spots of retouching, particularly to upper right corner above the bulls head and on his neck. Layer of discoloured varnish and some surface dirt. Generally in good original condition.