Meet our Alumni

One of Australia's first print artists, Victor Cobb's works captured the splendour of Melbourne and its surrounds. A student of the National Gallery School, Cobb initially learned his craft in oils and water colours. Cobb was eager to develop his interest in etching, an area in which there was little Australian tradition and no technical facilities.

Along with others he experimented with hand made tools and ingeniously developed etching presses. He produced his first print in the mid-1890s.

Following the outbreak of South Africa's second Boer War in 1899 Cobb worked his passage to South Africa as a ship's fireman and enlisted in the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. After fighting with distinction, he then joined the Johannesburg Police Force.

Returning to Australia he undertook artist commissions including the design of menus for the Prince of Wales' visit to Adelaide in 1920 and a series of etchings of Coombe Cottage for Dame Nellie Melba.

In 1925 he began work as Science Artist for the National Museum of Australian Zoology. There Cobb produced detailed anatomical drawings of Australian marsupials and reptiles. He also drew the skulls and skeletons of aborigines and notorious criminals such as Ned Kelly.

Cobb is especially remembered for his etchings portraying the attractive architecture of Melbourne's colleges and churches, the city landscape, foreshore and countryside. Many of his works are displayed in Australia's State Galleries. Cobb regularly exhibited his works, taught etching and lectured to art societies, schools and universities.