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William T Cooper (1934–2015) was notable as a painter of birds, however he was also a masterful botanical artist, producing botanical illustrations of rainforest fruits and hundreds of drawings of plants that were produced opportunistically for potential use in paintings.
This exhibition brings together over 100 works, many of which have not been on public exhibition before, from private collections around Australia and the collections of the State Library of New South Wales and the National Library of Australia. To strengthen the educational component of the exhibition, many of the works in the exhibition will be displayed together with botanical specimens from the collection of the Australian Tropical Herbarium at James Cook University.
Image: William T Cooper, Victoria’s Riflebirds at Topaz (on Topaz Tamarind Synima macrophylla) (detail), 1993, synthetic polymer paint on canvas on board, Private collection, Hobart
A Cairns Art Gallery exhibition
Selected Works
William T Cooper, Wompoo Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus magnificus) 2008, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Purchased from Andrew Isles, 2015
William T Cooper, Pied Imperial Pigeon (Ducula bicolor) 2009, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Purchased from Andrew Isles, 2015
William T Cooper, Banana Fig (Ficus pleurocarpa) with Spectacled Flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus)
conspicillatus) 1994, watercolour, Pictures Collection, National Library of Australia
William T Cooper, Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera) 2005, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by William and Wendy Cooper (for Manooka Pty Ltd), 2016
William T Cooper, Sea Hearse (Hernandia nymphaeifolia) 1970, gouache, Pictures Collection, National Library of Australia
William T Cooper, Golden Guinea Tree (Dillenia alata) 2007, watercolour, Private collection, Atherton Tablelands
William T Cooper, Palm Cockatoos (Probosciger aterrimus) undated (c. 1986), synthetic polymer paint on canvas on board, Private collection, Victoria
William T Cooper, Fruit drawing 1990-94, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Purchased from Andrew Isles, 2015
William T Cooper, Fruit drawing 2001, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Purchased from Andrew Isles, 2015
William T Cooper, Fruit drawing 1993, watercolour, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales. Purchased from Andrew Isles, 2015
William T Cooper, Bumpy Satinash (Syzygium cormiflorum) 1980, pencil, ink, watercolour, Pictures Collection, National Library of Australia
William T Cooper, Crimson Passionflower (Passiflora vitifolia) 1978, pen and gouache, Private collection, Atherton Tablelands
William T Cooper, 200 2000, watercolour, Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO. – Canberra
The Cairns Art Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, names or voices of deceased persons in photographs, film or text.
