Brief Biography-Edward William Cooke from London was the son of engraver George Cooke. Edward followed in his father’s footsteps as an engraver until he took up oil painting when he was twenty-two. James Stark tutored him, and he became influenced by Clarkson Stanfield and Richard Parkes Bonington’s style.
Cooke travelled Europe extensively, but his favourite destination was Holland, where he took in the Old Masters paintings and coastal scenes; marine art was his speciality. He was also interested in geology and gardening. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society and was a Royal Academician in 1864.