William Edward James Cook b. 1904 Christchurch, NZ

Also known as James Cook
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator), (Painter)
A painter and illustrator, after winning the Sawtell Travelling Scholarship, Cook worked as an art teacher, curator at the Art Gallery of Western Australia, and critic for the Daily Telegraph, Sydney.
Talk | Version history | Updated Oct. 19, 2011 | Created Jan. 1, 1996
Name
William Edward James Cook
Also known as James Cook
Birth date
1904
Birth place
Christchurch, NZ
Death date
1960
Death place
Italy
Gender
Male
Roles
  • Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
  • Artist (Painter)
Residence
  • New Zealand
  • Rome, Italy
  • Paris, France
  • Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
  • London, England, UK
Other Occupation
  • Gallery curator
  • Art critic
  • Teacher
Active Period
  • c.1920- c.1960
Languages
  • English
Training
  • 1920- 1924 Canterbury School of Art, NZ
Is Indigenous
No
Initial Record Data Source
  • Black and white artists

painter, illustrator, teacher, art critic and gallery curator, was born in Christchurch, NZ (his brother Alfred was also an artist). After studying at Canterbury School of Art in 1920-24 he won the Sawtell Travelling Scholarship and studied and travelled in London (where he shared rooms with William Dobell ) and at Edinburgh, Paris and Rome, 1924-27. Art teacher Canterbury Uni. High School 1927-33; official war artist WWII; teacher ESTC 1940; curator AGWA 1949-52; art critic Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 1952-59. Died of pneumonia while travelling in Italy in 1960. A meticulous painter and fine draughtsman, his work includes Two Tramps 1932, pencil, NERAM (ill. McCulloch, 178); Coffee Stall, London , WWII wash drawing, AGNSW, purchased 1942.

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Writers:
Staff Writer
Date written:
1996
Last updated:
2007
associate of
William Dobell
1899
Artist (Painter), Artist (Cartoonist / Illustrator)
sibling of
Alfred Cook
Non-Artist/Designer/Curator
associate of
Joshua Smith
1905
Artist
Coffee Stall, London
Date
c.1939- c.1945
Two Tramps
Date
1932
Collections
Recognitions
Sawtell Travelling Scholarship
1924
Award
Citations:
  • McCulloch, Alan, (1984), Encyclopedia of Australian Art, (Place: Melbourne, Vic : Hutchinson of Australia (2nd edition))