Portrait of Sir Edward Poynter, Bt., P.R.A, 1911

Sir Arthur Stockdale Cope RA (1857 - 1940)

RA Collection: Art

Arthur Stockdale Cope was one of C.W. Cope’s ten children. Like his father he attended the Royal Academy Schools and became in due course an Academician. However unlike his father Cope junior worked largely as a portrait painter, building up an extremely successful society practice which included many royal commissions.

Sir Edward Poynter had an equally distinguished career, but mainly as an arts administrator, being the last practising artist to serve as Director of the National Gallery. Poynter was elected President of the Royal Academy in 1896 after the death of Millais and served in that office until 1918. Cope portrays him wearing the PRA’s medal on a chain, along with the insignia of various civil honours, much as a general in the army would sport his badges of rank and campaign medals in an official regimental portrait.