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A Gentleman and a Miner with a Specimen of Copper

John Opie, 1786

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, Truro

John Opie was the son of Edward Opie, a Cornish mine carpenter. Opie's chief gift was a natural sympathy for old people and children, whom he painted with great skill. In this portrait the seated man is the Truro merchant and leading mlne adventurer Thomas Daniell (1715 - 1793) . He is being shown a specimen of copper ore by Captain Morcom, possibly the Captain Thomas Morcom who in 1793, with Richard Trevithick, made trials of pumping engines at Seal Hole mine, St.Agnes. The mine in the background may be Wheal Towan, St. Agnes, with which both Morcom and Daniell were associated.

More information

Title of artwork, date

A Gentleman and a Miner with a Specimen of Copper, 1786

Date supported

1994

Medium and material

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

98 x 126 cm

Grant

11100

Total cost

44400

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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