COOPER (Samuel), a very eminent English miniature painter, born in 1609, and bred under the care of his uncle John Hoskins. He derived, however, his principal excellence from a study of the works of Van Dyck, in whose time he lived; inasmuch that he was commonly styled "Van Dyck in little." His pencil was chiefly confined to the head, in which, with all its dependences, especially the hair, he was inimitable; but if he descended lower, his incorrectness was notorious. He died in 1672; and his pieces are universally admired all over Europe, selling for incredible prices. — He had a brother, Alexander, likewise a good miniature painter, who became limner to Christina queen of Sweden.