The Reverend Philip Cocks (1735–1797)

Art Historical Context

In the late 1760s, Johan Joseph Zoffany a Bohemian-born painter who became a leading figure in London's vibrant art scene, captured the dignified likeness of The Reverend Philip Cocks (5–1797) in this intimate oil-on-canvas portrait. Measuring 35½ x 27¼ inches, the work exemplifies Zoffany mastery of the Grand Manner style, blending Rococo elegance with emerging Neoclassical restraint. Working primarily in England after arriving in 1760, Zoffany was celebrated for his psychologically penetrating portraits of the British elite, including royalty and intellectuals, often infused with a sense of ...