Portrait of Charles Robert Cockerell

Charles Robert Cockerell Paintings: The 1 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 1 works by Charles Robert Cockerell in our catalogue

In short

To the gallery's eye, Charles Robert Cockerell's most famous painting is The Professor (1848), whose original hangs in the Royal Academy of Arts, London. Of the 1 works by Charles Robert Cockerell in our catalog, the gallery presents the 1 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.

1788 – 1863, London Most works: Royal Academy of Arts
The Professor (1848) by Charles Robert Cockerell1. The Professor 1848

The gallery's top 10 Charles Robert Cockerell paintings

1
The Professor (1848) by Charles Robert Cockerell

The Professor

1848 · Acrylic On Canvas · Royal Academy of Arts, London

Charles Robert Cockerell’s “The Professor”: A Testament to Grecian Grandeur Charles Robert Cockerell (1788-1863), a titan amongst English architects and archaeologists, bequeathed upon the world not merely buildings but also an unwavering devotion to preserving and interpreting antiquity. His magnum opus, "The Professor," painted in 1848, embodies this ethos perfectly—a meticulously rendered depiction of crumbling ruins that transcends mere architectural representation to become a profound meditation on history’s passage and…

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The museums that keep Charles Robert Cockerell's originals

The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Charles Robert Cockerell Paintings from this list
Royal Academy of Arts, LondonRoyal Academy of Arts London 1 The Professor

Charles Robert Cockerell, the signature paintings of each year

Every dated original by Charles Robert Cockerell on this page was made in 1848: here they are, the most famous first.

Works per year

Pick a year to see its originals.

Charles Robert Cockerell's paintings: the gallery answers

Which Charles Robert Cockerell painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer

The Professor (1848).

How old was Charles Robert Cockerell on completing The Professor?Reveal the answer

60 years old: The Professor dates from 1848, and Charles Robert Cockerell was born in 1788.

How many works did Charles Robert Cockerell create?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 1 works by Charles Robert Cockerell.

Where do Charles Robert Cockerell's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Royal Academy of Arts (London). The museum table above lists them all.

Charles Robert Cockerell: the artist

early life and formative years

charles robert cockerell, a prominent english architect, archaeologist, and writer, was born on april 27, 1788, in london, united kingdom. his formative years were spent under the tutelage of robert smirke, a renowned architect, laying the foundation for cockerell's future endeavors.

archaeological discoveries and grand tour

between 1810 and 1817, cockerell embarked on an extended grand tour, primarily spent in greece. this period was marked by significant archaeological discoveries, including the excavation of the temple of aphaia on aegina and the temple of apollo at bassae. the latter's frieze, now housed in the british museum, was meticulously shipped to england under cockerell's supervision.

establishment as a respected architect

upon returning to england in 1817, cockerell established a successful architectural practice in london. his designs, showcased in various projects, including the ashmolean museum at oxford and the fitzwilliam museum at cambridge, demonstrate an effortless incorporation of classical and greek architecture.

notable achievements and legacy

  • cockerell was bestowed with the prestigious royal gold medal in 1848, solidifying his position as a leading figure in british architecture.
  • he served as surveyor of st paul's cathedral from 1819 and as architect to the bank of england from 1833.
  • cockerell was elected an associate of the royal academy (ara) in 1829 and a royal academician (ra) in 1836.
key works: discover more of charles robert cockerell's works and legacy:
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