Francis Cotes: A Master of Pastel and Subtle Charm Born in London in 1726, Francis Cotes (1726–1770) stands as a pivotal figure in the development of English art during the Georgian era. More than just a portrait painter, he was a true innovator, particularly recognized for his pioneering work with pastel and crayon – mediums that he pushed to their expressive limits. His legacy lies not only in the beauty of his finished works but also in his meticulous approach to technique and his profound influence on subsequent generations of artists. Cotes’s early artistic training began under the tut…