Background
As a young boy Cole received training in art from his father, who was himself a successful painter.
As a young boy Cole received training in art from his father, who was himself a successful painter.
After a year"s stay in Hobart, having completed a good many commissions to general acclaim, including a fine pair of portraits of the Governor and Lady Hamilton, which were presented to the Art Gallery of Tasmania, he moved to Melbourne.
He may have been related to George Vicat Cole. He sailed to Tasmania, arriving in the Doric in 1889. In In August 1895 the (yet to be inaugurated) Perth Art Gallery was donated his portrait of Sir George Grey.
In May 1896 he was working in South Africa.
In 1900 he was touring the African interior. The following year he was back in England and the Royal Academy had an exhibition which included his portrait of the Duke of Norfolk.
In 1902 commissions included Lord Milner and Cecil Rhodes. In 1908 he was granted a series of sittings by the King.
He spent part of the World War I years as a guest of an Indian Maharajah.
He died in Tooting Bec hospital.