COOKE, Albert Charles (1836-1902) — Melbourne
Artist & printmaker; engraver. Produced a number of panoramic bird’s-eye views, including Panoramic view of Melbourne from the tower of the new post-office 1867, engraved by Frederick Grosse; Ballaarat from the Black Hill 1868, engraved by R. Bruce; Melbourne 1871, engraved by Samuel Calvert for the Illustrated Australian News; Sydney 1871, engraved by Rudolph Jenny for the Illustrated Australian News; Melbourne and suburbs 1873, engraved by Charles Edward Winston and Edward Lee for the Illustrated Australian News; Sydney 1874, engraved by Calvert for the Illustrated Sydney News; Dunedin, N.Z. 1875, engraved by Calvert for the Illustrated New Zealand Herald; Newcastle 1875, engraved by Calvert for the Illustrated Sydney News; Adelaide 1876, engraved by Calvert for the Illustrated Sydney News; The city of Sydney looking east from Darling Harbour with enlarged illustrations of the principal buildings 1876, engraved by Calvert for the Town and Country Journal; Ballarat 1884, for the Illustrated Australian News; Bird’s eye view of Port Phillip ca,1900, published by ‘McCarron, Bird & Co.’ for the Melbourne estate agents ‘Callaghan & Co’, etc.
Reportedly born in England in 1836. Studied under the artist James Duffield Harding (1797-1863), and later under Nicholas Chevalier (1828-1902). Emigrated to Victoria in 1854. He is said to have tried prospecting in the goldfields before settling to an artistic career. Known especially for panoramic city scenes, but also worked as an architectural draughtsman and became a fellow of the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects. He belonged to the Council of the Victorian Academy of Arts from its foundation in 1870 until 1873, and exhibited annually at its exhibitions to 1879. He lived in Western Australia in the latter part of his life, producing a chromolithograph of Fremantle in 1894, but returned to Melbourne, where he died at his home in Albert Park 11 Apr 1902, aged sixty-five and was buried the following day at St. Kilda Cemetery. Probate papers concerning an estate valued at £236.0s.7d survive in Victoria archives. “He was a refined and cultured gentleman” (The Age, 14 Apr 1902).
103 Bourke Street West, Melbourne
Robe Street, St. Kilda, Melbourne
The Esplanade, St Kilda, Melbourne — 1867
Albert Road, Albert Park — 1902
DAAO. NLA. Trove.