William Delafield Cook facts for kids

William Delafield Cook (1936–2015) was an Australian artist. He was famous for his paintings of landscapes that looked almost like photographs. This style is called photorealism. He won several important awards, including the Order of Australia, which is a special honor for Australians.

Early Life and Family

William Delafield Cook was born in Melbourne, Australia, on February 28, 1936. His grandfather, who had the same name, was also a painter. His grandfather was connected to the Heidelberg School, a group of famous Australian artists.

In 1962, William married Sally Patricia Bovington. They had two daughters and a son. Their son, Jonathan Delafield Cook, also became an artist.

Awards and Recognition

William Delafield Cook won two major art awards in Australia. In 1980, he won the Wynne Prize for his painting called A Waterfall (Strath Creek). The Wynne Prize is given for the best landscape painting of the year.

The next year, in 1981, he won the Sulman Prize for his work titled A French family. This prize is for the best subject painting, genre painting, or mural project.

He also taught art at the University of Melbourne.

In 2013, William was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his "significant service to the visual arts as a realist painter of Australian landscapes." It meant he was honored for his important work in painting realistic Australian landscapes.

Later Life

William Delafield Cook often split his time between London, England, and Melbourne, Australia. He passed away in London on March 29, 2015, after a short illness. He was 79 years old and had been getting ready for a new art exhibition.