Edward William Cooke RA (1811-1880) - Mont Saint Michel, Normandy
Edward William Cooke was meticulous at documenting his sketching tours in the UK and abroad. We are fortunate to have extensive details of his trips. A known tour to Normandy happened in September 1836 and Cooke recorded being at Mont Saint-Michel between 21st and 27th of that month. There are several known drawings from this trip including works in the collections of the Royal Academy of Arts, The Huntington and a work sold by the Clarges Gallery. [1]
Cooke also produced a large oil painting titled 'Mont. St. Michel, Peasants returning to Pontorson on the approach of the tide' in 1840 and exhibited this picture at the British Institution, it was bought by the Marquess of Lansdowne. [2] It was recently sold at Christie's in 2002 for £133,150. [3] The artist produced six major pictures of the Mont in his career and our drawing is a large scale work that may have been used as inspiration. It stayed in the artist's studio collection throughout his lifetime.
Our drawing is two sheets of paper from a sketchbook stuck together. Cooke has also drawn a study of soldier on the wall of the Mont in the top-right hand corner. There are also soldiers stationed around the centre of teh picture. It is a highly detailed architectural work by the artist. It could easily have been drawn on in September 1836 which is when we know he visited.
This drawing came directly from the studio of Cooke and has been in the same collection since this time through descent. We have several other drawings from this collection currently for sale including an important view of Rome that was clearly used for his Royal Academy exhibition piece of the city.
Medium: pencil on paper from Cooke's sketchbook, 27.5 x 27cm, mounted (42 x 41cm).
Provenance: Studio of the artist, thence by descent to the previous owner.
Literature:
[1] - Edward William Cooke RA (1811 - 1880) 'The Benedictine Cloister, Mont St. Michel, September 27th 1836, Royal Academy of Arts Collection. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/work-of-art/the-benedictine-cloister-mont-st-michel
- Edward William Cooke RA (1811 - 1880) 'Second Gate, Mt. St. Michel', The Huntington.
https://emuseum.huntington.org/objects/1376/second-gate-mt-st-michel
- Edward William Cooke RA (1811 - 1880) 'Mont S Michel', Clarges Gallery, see John Munday. E.W. Cooke 1811-1880: A man of his time, London: 1996, plate 61, p.92.
[2] John Munday. E.W. Cooke 1811-1880: A man of his time, London: 1996, p.91. See colour plate 44.
[3] Edward William Cooke, R.A. (1811-1880) 'Mont St. Michel, Peasants returning to Pontorson on the Approach of the Tide', Christie's Sale 12/6/2002, lot 39. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3935123
Condition report: general time staining especially noticeable at paper join on the left hand-side and around the edges of the drawing. There is a small tear half way up on the right-hand edge. Please see photos.