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John Opie Most Popular Paintings

The 20 artworks by John Opie our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 20 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide John Opie · 1761 – 1807

Portrait of Miss Frances Vinicombe

1790 · Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg · original 92 x 71 cm

Experience the serene Romanticism of John Opie's 1790 portrait, capturing Neoclassical grace and quiet reflection; discover this masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$33871 × 92 cm Commission at original size

Peasant Family

1783 · Tate Gallery, London · original 154 x 184 cm

Experience 'Peasant Family' by John Opie (1783-85). A poignant oil painting capturing a rural family’s quiet intimacy, showcasing masterful detail and evoking a sense of domestic warmth.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$970184 × 154 cm Commission at original size

Self-Portrait

1789 · National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh · original 70 x 60 cm

Explore John Opie’s 1789 ‘Self-Portrait,’ a dramatic Baroque masterpiece featuring chiaroscuro & intense emotion. Oil on canvas, Cornish art history.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$27060 × 70 cm Commission at original size

Scene from Shakespeare's Winter's Tale

1790 · British Museum, London

Experience the dramatic tension of John Opie's 1790 neoclassical engraving from Shakespeare's Winter's Tale; discover this masterpiece of historical drama today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

A Gentleman and a Miner

1786

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17536 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Young Girl, Said to be Lady Bathurst

original 75 x 61 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28161 × 75 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of a Man, said to be the Poet Thomas Moore

original 76 x 64 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$28964 × 76 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of Miss Frances Vinicombe

1790 · original 92 x 71 cm

Admire John Opie’s ‘Portrait of Miss Vinicombe,’ a captivating 1790 oil painting showcasing Neoclassical elegance & Romantic atmosphere. Explore this exquisite portrait's rich details and historical significance.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$33871 × 92 cm Commission at original size

A Girl with a Basket of Flowers

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Confession

original 103 x 76 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$37676 × 103 cm Commission at original size

Henry fuseli

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Thomas girtin

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a young man in a blue coat, yellow jacket and cravat

original 61 x 51 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$23851 × 61 cm Commission at original size

Confession

original 103 x 76 cm

Explore John Opie’s ‘Confession,’ a Baroque-Neoclassical oil painting of an elderly man & young woman. Masterful lighting, rich textures & detailed realism capture intimacy & wisdom. #JohnOpie #OilPainting #ArtHistory

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$40176 × 103 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of Amelia Opie (

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

The Murder of Rizzio

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 29 cm Commission this artwork

Philip Beaver

A striking black and white portrait of Philip Beaver, a Royal Navy officer, by renowned artist John Opie. Explore this historical painting's details & legacy.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17529 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Winter's tale

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17535 × 28 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of Master Henry Monro (1791 1814)

original 45 x 36 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$19436 × 45 cm Commission at original size

The Shepherd Boy

John Opie’s ‘The Shepherd Boy’ captures a poignant moment of reflection in rural 18th-century Britain. This evocative portrait invites contemplation, showcasing Opie's signature style and timeless appeal.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 73 artworks by John Opie
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17528 × 36 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

John Opie

1761 – 1807

Quick facts

Lifespan46 years
Top 3 worksPortrait of Miss Frances Vinicombe, Peasant Family, Self-Portrait
Color intensitymonochromatic
Typical colorsespresso, phthalo green
Top-ranked workPortrait of Miss Frances Vinicombe
Copyright statusPublic domain
Mediumsoil on canvas
Born1761, Trevellas, United Kingdom

Biography

A Cornish Prodigy Ascends: The Life and Art of John Opie

John Opie, born in the humble surroundings of Harmony Cottage, Trevellas, Cornwall in 1761, emerged as one of the most remarkable artistic figures of his generation. His story is a compelling narrative of raw talent nurtured against the odds, rising from a carpenter’s son to become a celebrated portraitist and history painter, a Royal Academician, and an influential voice within the British art world. Opie's early life was marked by a precocious aptitude for both drawing and mathematics – a duality that perhaps informed his meticulous approach to composition and form. Even as a young boy, he demonstrated an independent spirit, establishing an evening school to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic to local children while simultaneously mastering Euclid’s geometry. This thirst for knowledge, coupled with his artistic inclination, was initially met with resistance from his father, who insisted on an apprenticeship in carpentry. However, fate intervened in the form of Dr. John Wolcot, known as Peter Pindar, a physician and satirist whose discerning eye recognized the extraordinary potential within the young Opie.

Mentorship, London, and Royal Patronage

Wolcot became Opie’s champion, securing his release from the carpentry apprenticeship and providing him with invaluable guidance, encouragement, and crucial introductions. This mentorship proved pivotal in launching Opie's career. In 1781, they journeyed to London together, where Wolcot shrewdly presented Opie as a self-taught prodigy – a “Cornish wonder” untouched by formal artistic training. This narrative captivated the London art scene, drawing comparisons to masters like Caravaggio and Velázquez from none other than Sir Joshua Reynolds himself. The initial success was swift and dazzling. Commissions poured in, including portraits of members of the British royal family—the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Lady Salisbury, and Mary Delany among them. Opie’s residence on Castle Street became a hub of fashionable society, his talent commanding attention and admiration. However, the partnership with Wolcot eventually dissolved as Opie asserted his independence, seeking to forge his own path without the constraints of their profit-sharing agreement. This period solidified Opie's reputation, establishing him as a leading portraitist capable of capturing not only physical likeness but also the character and social standing of his sitters.

Beyond Portraiture: Historical Paintings and Academic Recognition

While initially celebrated for his portraits, Opie harbored ambitions beyond simply recording the faces of the elite. He yearned to engage with grand historical narratives, seeking to establish himself as a painter of significant subjects. This ambition led him to explore history painting, culminating in works like *The Assassination of James I* (1786) and *The Murder of Rizzio* (1787). The latter proved particularly impactful, earning him immediate election as an Associate of the Royal Academy and full membership the following year. These historical paintings demonstrated a growing mastery of composition, dramatic lighting—often reminiscent of Rembrandt—and a commitment to conveying emotional intensity. Opie’s dedication to his craft extended beyond painting; he actively sought to broaden his intellectual horizons through the study of Latin, French literature, and cultivated social circles. He also became deeply involved with John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, creating five paintings inspired by the Bard’s plays, further cementing his position within the artistic establishment.

A Legacy of Artistry and Thought

Opie’s later life was marked by both professional success and personal challenges. His first marriage proved unhappy, ending in divorce in 1796. However, he found lasting happiness with Amelia Alderson, a writer and abolitionist whom he married in 1798. Their partnership fostered mutual support and intellectual stimulation. In 1805, Opie was appointed Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy, a testament to his standing within the art world. His lectures, delivered in 1806 and published posthumously in 1809 with a memoir by Amelia, revealed a thoughtful and articulate mind deeply engaged with the principles of artistic creation. He advocated for the formation of a national gallery—a visionary idea that would eventually become reality—and offered insightful commentary on the state of British art. John Opie’s untimely death in April 1807 at the age of 46 cut short a promising career, but his legacy endures. He left behind a substantial body of work – over 500 portraits and 250 other paintings—that offers a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural landscape of late 18th and early 19th century Britain. He remains a significant figure in British art history, celebrated for his technical skill, insightful portraiture, and contributions to artistic discourse.

Questions & Answers

What are the birthplace and birth year of John Opie?

John Opie was born in Trevellas in 1761.

Where can I find statistics about John Opie's works?

A Stats page exists for John Opie, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

In which historical period did John Opie work?

John Opie worked in the Early-Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Oct. 11, 2026

Collector's quiz

In what region of England was John Opie born?
Who initially recognized and mentored John Opie's artistic talent?
John Opie became a Royal Academician in what year?
What artistic style is John Opie particularly known for, often referencing a Dutch master?
Besides painting, what other intellectual pursuit did Opie engage in to refine his social standing?

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three Delivered, certified

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