Portrait of Francis Burdett
This was painted in the 1760s at a time when Cotes had a great deal of competition from other distinguished portrait artists, such as Gainsborough (1727-1788). Cotes was able to maintain his clientele by producing an extremely professional type of portraiture. The likeness was accurate if a little flattering. The dress was fashionable without ostentation, the sitter could thus appear poised and elegant but without self-enhancement. Such portraits never reveal the true character of the sitters with the result that Coteâs reputation died with him.Little is known about this sitter.
