Charles West Cope 1811-1890

Charles West Cope was a versatile painter who painted large historic, biblical and literary subjects and won a prize in the competition for decoration for the Houses of Parliament in 1843 with his design Trial by Jury. He also painted a number of modern social dramas which reflect the political debate regarding the issue of Poor Law, including Poor Law Guardians: Board Day Application for Bread. His most satisfactory work are the sensitive portrayals of maternity and childhood. 

The First Music Lesson was exhibited in the Great Room at the Royal Academy during the Summer Exhibition of 1863 and was purchased by Alderman Salomons, the first jewish Lord Major of London, on the day of the private view, along with Cope's other exhibit of the same year Morning Lessons which was another portrait of Cope's son with his brother Harry.

Cope often used his children and wife as models for his genre paintings, including Life well Spent of 1862 which also depicts Harry Cope with two of his sisters and his mother. Life Well Spent and its pendant Life Ill Spent portrayed contrasting scenes of domestic life. In one, the children are involved in educational pursuits whilst the other depicts them at frivolous play. Cope was clearly inspired by the subject of children being educated and in The First Music Lesson he depicts the initial attempts of a budding musician encouraged by his more accomplished sister. Being a proficient piano player was seen as a mark of refinement and intelligence

Cope exhibited several portraits of his sons and daughters at the Academy. His portrait of Emily was exhibited in 1864 and was probably an engagement present. She had met a charming young man named James Corford who was reading for orders at Abinger in Surrey where the Cope family stayed for a holiday in the summer of 1864. They married on the 4th October 1865.