John Opie (St. Agnes, 1761 – London, 1807) was an English painter. He was born in a tin-mining district in Cornwall, where his father was a mine carpenter. He was launched in London in 1781 as the Cornish Wonder, an untutored natural genius, by John Wolcot, doctor and skilful impresario. The young Opie's talent lay in painting peasant types in strong chiaroscuro, and he is best with old people and children, whom he treats with Rembrandtesque effects of light. His second marriage, in 1798, to the novelist Amelia Alderson led to his painting more literary subjects. From 1799 he had a studio in Norwich. He became a Royal Academician in 1787, was made a Professor at the Royal academy in 1805 and gave a series of lectures, published posthumously in 1809.
[Oil on canvas, 92 x 71 cm]
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