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THBPeer Luise Stevens, Bust of Curator, Dr. Hereward Lester Cooke
About Seller
117 Tunnel Road
Asheville, NC 28805
United States
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has been conducting sales of fine and decorative arts for over 30 years. Auctions are held in our North Carolina sale room but attracts a global audience. Founded by Robert Brunk in 1983, the auctions became well known for their integrity and profes...Read more
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About Auction
LiveFeb 25, 2026
We kick off our Semiquincentennial celebration with over 200 personal and presidential items from the Estate of President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. Featuring paintings by the President, a rare gold inaugural medal, personal fishing and hunting gear; signed editions from his personal library; dinner and glass ware, ephemera, decorative arts, jewelry worn by the President and Mrs. Carter, and more. Also featured is an extensive collection of presidential signatures; important fine art and jewelry from relatives of George HW Bush; American Furniture, fine and decorative arts, silver, and more. Brunk Auctions support@brunkauctions.com
View Full Catalog (434)
- Lot Description
(Washington, D.C., born 1937)
Inscribed "Dr. Hereward Lester Cooke-Nat'l Gallery of Art-2.16.73-Peer L. Stevens", patinated bronze on green marble base, 23-1/2 x 10 x 10-1/2 in.
Provenance: Estate of Gary L. Johnson, Virginia
Note: Cooke is primarily recognized for his contributions to art history rather than his painting, having authored several influential texts, including Painting Lessons from the Great Masters, published in 1967. From 1961 to 1973, Cooke served as the Curator of Painting at the National Gallery of Art, having previously worked as an aide and acting assistant director starting in 1956. One of his key responsibilities as curator was overseeing the Expert Opinions Section of the National Gallery, where art owners could have their works appraised or identified. Renowned as an authority on art fakes and forgeries, Cooke earned the nickname "Sherlock Holmes of the Art World" for his adeptness in solving art attribution mysteries.
In his role as curator, Cooke significantly impacted government-sponsored art programs, helping select artists for the Environmental Protection Agency's art initiative and serving as an art advisor to NASA for ten years. He organized the National Gallery's exhibition of NASA art in 1969. From his time as an art advisor for NASA, he wrote and released the book Eyewitness to Space in 1972. While his achievements in art history were widely recognized, he was also esteemed as an artist. Cooke was appointed director of the American pavilion at the Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition, served as artist-in-residence at Princeton for four years, and received the prestigious Prix de Rome and a Fulbright fellowship. In 1940, he was awarded the American Beaux Arts Prize for murals." (Source: Bureau of Reclamation https://website-artlogicwebsite1450.artlogic.net/artists/33-hereward-lester-cooke/biography/).
- Provenance
Estate of Gary L. Johnson, Virginia
- Shipping Info
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Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction, or will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.
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- Condition
verdigris patina, abrasions Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.
