Fed: Painting does a Cook s tour to the Portrait Gallery

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2000
Fed: Painting does a Cook s tour to the Portrait Gallery

Captain JAMES COOK, the first European on Australia's east coast, has set another record
211 years after his death.

The National Portrait Gallery has paid $5.3 million for a portrait of COOK by JOHN WEBBER.

The National Gallery of Australia purchased the 218-year-old painting in June, with
the help of wine and cleaning companies, to make the most expensive purchase of a painting
by an Australian institution.

The federal government contributed $2.8 million for Captain COOK and two Sydney businessmen
- Rosemount Estate chairman ROBERT OATLEY and Tempo Services chairman JOHN SCHAEFFER -
put up $1.25 million each.

The painting arrived in Sydney last night and will be unveiled at the Portrait Gallery
next week by Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD.

AAP RTV fh/mfh/jn

KEYWORD: COOK (CANBERRA)

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