John Opie (1761–1807): The Cornish Wonder and His Enduring Legacy John Opie, born Mithian, nr. St Agnes, Cornwall in 1761, emerged as one of the most remarkable artistic figures of his generation—a testament to talent nurtured against considerable odds. His story is a compelling narrative of raw ability elevated by circumstance, 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 characterized by an astonishing aptitude for both drawing and mathematics—a duality…