473 - Edward William Cooke, RA,

Edward William Cooke, RA, British 1811-1880- Two coastal scenes: Coast guard station, Ecclesbourne, after the gale of March 1835; and Porlock, Somerset, with a beached fishing boat; each pencil on paper, the first inscribed 'Coast guard station, Ecclesbourne, after the gale of March 1835' (lower left) and dated 'April 28 1836' (lower right), the second inscribed 'Porlock', 'sand', and 'shingle' (lower left) and dated '19. Sept. 62' (lower right), the first 10.2 x 16 cm., the second 10.9 x 18.2 cm., two (2). Provenance: with Martyn Gregory, London [VC 602]. Note: Edward William Cooke was born into an artistic family, the son of the engraver George Cooke (1781-1834). A gifted draughtsman from an early age, he developed a lifelong interest in marine subjects after meeting Clarkson Stanfield RA (1793-1867) at the age of fourteen. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1851 and a full Academician in 1864. Alongside his artistic career, Cooke was a distinguished botanist and geologist, becoming a Fellow of the Linnean Society, the Geological Society, and the Royal Society. An enthusiastic traveller and prolific sketcher, Cooke made numerous tours throughout Britain and Europe between 1824 and 1879, recording coastal landscapes, harbours, and shipping in his sketchbooks. A comparable collection of Cooke's maritime and architectural drawings sold at Roseberys, London, 10 March 2026, lot 191 (£2,624).