Key Works and Artistic Themes
L.M. Cooke focused on scenes that captured significant moments in American history through a charming American folk art style. One of the most notable pieces is the 1901 oil on canvas titled Salute to General Washington in New York Harbor. This work, measuring 68.6 x 101.9 cm, looks back to the year 1783 to commemorate George Washington's return to New York City. It marks the period following the end of the American Revolutionary War and the British evacuation of the city.
In this painting, L.M. Cooke depicts Washington aboard a ceremonial barge. American and French flags fly overhead to mark the occasion. The composition captures the naval pageantry of the era, showing warships firing a thunderous salute in the General's honor. Through these details, the work celebrates the birth of a new nation and the triumphant arrival of its leader in the harbor.
Exhibitions and Historical Recognition
The recognition of L.M. Cooke’s work grew through various exhibitions that highlighted the charm of American folk art. In 1951, the Milwaukee Art Institute featured the artist's work in an exhibition titled American Primitive Painting 1750-1950. This was followed by several appearances at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The artist was included in the 1955 American Primitive Paintings exhibition, and again in 1957 for a show featuring works from the Collection of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, Part II.
The reach of these paintings extended beyond American borders, finding a place in the Petit Palais in Paris during the 1965 exhibition Trois millenaires d'art et de marine. Back in the United States, the work continued to be recognized in specialized settings. It was part of the 1982 exhibition George Washington, A Figure Upon the Stage, held at The National Museum of American History in Washington. Later, in 1989, the piece was shown in Washington Salutes Washington: The President and the State, which traveled to the Washington State Capitol Museum in Seattle and the Cheney Cowles Museum in Spokane.
The historical importance of the work is also reflected in its official use within government spaces. Between 1991 and 1993, the painting was part of an extended loan for use by the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., appearing during the tenures of both Secretary Samuel Skinner and Secretary Andrew H. Card.
Where to See the Works Today
The primary place to find the work of L.M. Cooke is within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. There, one can find the oil on canvas painting titled Salute to General Washington in New York Harbor. This specific piece is cataloged under the accession number 1953.5.7. It remains a significant part of the institution's holdings, representing a particular chapter of American folk art style.
The presence of this painting in such a prominent collection is due to the generosity of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. They purchased the work and subsequently gave it as a gift to the National Gallery of Art in 1953. Before it reached the museum, the painting was recorded as coming from New York State and was held by Jean and Howard Lipman in New York City around 1939.
