Oil on canvas, inscribed and dated "Robt. Cooke / 1840" to top right on verso, presented in a period gilt frame.

Stretcher size 30 x 25 1/4 in.; Frame dimensions 39 x 34 1/4 in.

From the Collection of the Lyman Family, Massachusetts

Robert Cooke was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He began his career as a lithographer, apprenticing under William Pendleton at Pendleton Lithographic Company in Boston. In 1835, he assumed the position of chief draftsman from Pendleton. In 1839, Cooke left the company to open a studio with Benjamin Champney, his roommate, friend and fellow artist.

In 1841, Cooke and Champney traveled to Europe together. Cooke established a portrait studio in Paris and was gaining a reputation for painting portraits of English and Americans in the city. Sadly, he became sick and after an unsuccessful operation and failing health, Cooke died of consumption in Paris at the age of twenty-eight.

Two patches to verso with associated retouch to recto visible under UV light (affecting inner corner of proper left eye and nose, area to left of neck tie); minor area of retouch along left edge of canvas near frame visible under UV light; later varnish; some loss and chipping to frame.