Richard Collins (artist)

Richard Collins (1755–1831) was a British miniature painter.

Miniature portrait of George III, ca. 1790, in a gold brooch, 1.9 cm diameter. Now in the Denver Art Museum.

Life

Collins was born at Gosport in Hampshire, on 30 January 1755. He studied enamel-painting with Jeremias Meyer. In 1777, he exhibited some portraits at the Royal Academy.^[1]

He shared with Richard Cosway and Samuel Shelley the fashionable sitters of the day, and in 1789, was appointed principal portrait-painter in enamel to George III. He executed some fine miniature portraits of the royal family. Having acquired a comfortable income by his art, he left London in 1811, and retired at Pershore, Worcestershire, resigning his post in the royal service.^[1]

About 1828, however, the love of art and culture led Collins to return to London, and he resided in the vicinity of Regent's Park until his death on 5 August 1831.^[1]