Alfred Egerton Cooper
Alfred Ernest Egerton Cooper (5 July 1883 – 11 May 1974), RBA, ARCA, was a British painter of portraits, landscapes and other figurative work. In the era of Modernism, he continued to work in traditional style from his studio in Chelsea, London.
Alfred Egerton Cooper RBA, ARCA | |
|---|---|
Cooper in 1934 | |
| Born | 5 July 1883 Tettenhall, England |
| Died | 11 May 1974 (aged 90) Chelsea, London, England |
| Resting place | Putney Vale Cemetery (cremation) |
| Education | Durham School |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy Schools, Royal College of Art |
| Notable work | Portraits of George VI, Winston Churchill, Barnes Wallis; paintings of airships |
| Style | Impressionist, traditional |
Cooper was an artist of modest origins who attended the Royal Academy Schools then became a scholarship student at the Royal College of Art. He lost most of the sight of one eye due to chlorine gas in the First World War. However, as the war ended, he was promoted to captain and official war artist of the RAF. After producing military paintings of aircraft and RAF personnel, he went on to paint King George VI, Winston Churchill and Barnes Wallis, besides various earls and other worthies. He was a teacher of art, he restored old paintings, and he produced sporting pictures, murals and paintings for illustrated newspapers. He took part in the painting event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics. His work is held in numerous collections, such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Imperial War Museum, the Guildhall Art Gallery and the Parliamentary Art Collection.
Cooper was married with one son and lived most of his life in London, where he was president of Chelsea Art Society. He was said to be "one of Chelsea's oldest and best-loved artists".