Cooke is known for his paintings of marine and coastal scenes, and made several visits to Venice in the mid 1800s. Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1853, this view of Venice was purchased by Lord Armstrong in 1869 for 650 guineas, sold in 1910, and recovered for Cragside in 2002. Cooke knew Lord Armstrong, advising him on the layout of the gardens at Cragside.

Oil painting on canvas, San Giorgio Maggiore and the Salute, Venice, with Fishing Craft of Chioggia and the Lagune, by Edward William Cooke RA (London 1811 – Groombridge 1880), 1852.

Provenance: Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1853; sold by the artist to W. Bashall, Farington Park, Preston, in 1853; purchased by William George Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong of Cragside (1810-1900) from Agnew’s in 1869; sold at Christie’s on 24 June 1910, lot 49, when bought by Agnew’s; purchased by the National Trust for Cragside from Christie’s on 27 November 2002, lot 24.

Marks and inscriptions: Bottom right: COOKE. VENEZIA

Text from the National Trust website

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Cragside, Rothbury, Northumberland
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Edward William Cooke (1811-1880)
Date: 1852

Image Details
Date: 21 April 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 640
Licensing: Image of a National Trust asset. This image cannot be licensed.