Hereward Lester Cooke
Encyclopedia
Hereward Lester Cooke was an American
painter.
Cooke was born in Princeton
, New Jersey
in 1916. He studied at Oxford University, the Art Students League (under George Bridgman
), Yale University
School of Fine Art and Princeton University
Graduate School, where he received his Ph.D. Cooke is better known for his work in art history than for his painting, having written several texts, including Painting Lessons from the Great Masters in 1967. He was the Curator of Painting at the National Gallery of Art
from 1961-1973, and before that he was a National Gallery Aide and acting assistant director, beginning in 1956. Part of his duties as curator included heading the Expert Opinions Section of the National Gallery, where owners of artworks could come have their art appraised or otherwise identified. He was a well known authority on fakes and forgeries, and was called the "Sherlock Holmes of the Art World" for his work in solving art mysteries of attribution. As a curator, Cooke was very influential in the government sponsored art programs, helping to select artists for the Environmental Protection Agency art program, and serving as art advisor to NASA
for ten years. He organized the National Gallery Exhibit of NASA art in 1969. Cooke's successes may have been more visible in art history, but he was also well regarded as an artist. Not only was he appointed director of the American pavilion at the Venice Biannual International Art Exhibition
, but he was also artist in residence at Princeton for four years and he won the Prix de Rome
and a Fulbright Fellowship. In 1940 he won the American Beaux Arts prize for mural
s. Cooke died in 1973.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter.
Cooke was born in Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1916. He studied at Oxford University, the Art Students League (under George Bridgman
George Bridgman
George Brant Bridgman was a Canadian-American painter, writer, and teacher in the fields of anatomy and figure drawing. Bridgman taught anatomy for artists at the Art Students League of New York for some 45 years....
), Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
School of Fine Art and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
Graduate School, where he received his Ph.D. Cooke is better known for his work in art history than for his painting, having written several texts, including Painting Lessons from the Great Masters in 1967. He was the Curator of Painting at the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
from 1961-1973, and before that he was a National Gallery Aide and acting assistant director, beginning in 1956. Part of his duties as curator included heading the Expert Opinions Section of the National Gallery, where owners of artworks could come have their art appraised or otherwise identified. He was a well known authority on fakes and forgeries, and was called the "Sherlock Holmes of the Art World" for his work in solving art mysteries of attribution. As a curator, Cooke was very influential in the government sponsored art programs, helping to select artists for the Environmental Protection Agency art program, and serving as art advisor to NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
for ten years. He organized the National Gallery Exhibit of NASA art in 1969. Cooke's successes may have been more visible in art history, but he was also well regarded as an artist. Not only was he appointed director of the American pavilion at the Venice Biannual International Art Exhibition
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
, but he was also artist in residence at Princeton for four years and he won the Prix de Rome
Rome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
and a Fulbright Fellowship. In 1940 he won the American Beaux Arts prize for mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s. Cooke died in 1973.