Edward William COOKE
The outstanding British marine artist of his time, Edward Cooke came from a family of engravers that included his father George COOKE and uncle William Bernard COOKE. In 1835 he began to exhibit oils at the Royal Academy, and his paintings remained a feature of its Exhibitions for 45 years.
Cooke was particularly attracted by the Isle of Wight, and on his formative visit in 1835 made a thorough study of its fishing boats and lobster pots. Above all, he delighted in the beaches strewn with rocks of various kinds, fishing tackle, breakwaters and small timber-propped jetties. Tovey mentions his sketching of storage bunkers on the beaches in October of 1848. Though little is known at present about his visit(s) to Cornwall, his works include a number of local subjects. A sale of his works was held at Christie's in 1861, and his studio sale was in May 1880.
media
Painter of landscapes and coastal subjects; marine artist
works and access
Likenesses of the Artist: Edward William Cooke, image courtesy of Don Kurtz http://www.artrenewal.org/pages/search.php
Works include: Steeple Rock; Kynance Cove, Lizard, Cornwall; Low Water; The Pier and Bay Of St Ives, Cornwall (1853); View Of St Agnes, Scilly Isles; The Undercliff at Bonchurch, Isle of Wight (1858); Coast Scene (at RCM, Truro)
exhibitions
Royal Academy 1835-1880
memberships
ARA 1851 (Elected 3 Nov 1851)
RA 1863 (Elected 18 Dec 1863)
FRS
misc further info
references
Dictionary of National Biography
Munday (1996) E W Cooke, A Man of his Time
RA Directory of Membership
Public Catalogue Foundation (2007) Cornwall & Isles of Scilly: Oil Paintings in Public Collections
Tovey (2009) St Ives: Social History
Wood (1995) Victorian Painters (bibl)
Woodbridge Antique Collectors (Bibliography & Catalogue of work)
Art Renewal Centre (on-line)