Alec Cobbe
Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe, (9 January 1945 – 31 March 2026) was an Irish designer, artist, musical instrument collector and decorator.
Also recorded as Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe
Alec Cobbe

Titian · Public domain
- Name
- Alec Cobbe
- Birth Name
- Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe
- Born
- 9 January 1945
- Birthplace
- Dublin, Ireland
- Died
- 31 March 2026
- Place of death
- Surrey, England
- Occupation
- Designer, artist and musical instrument collector
- Nationality
- Ireland
- Fields
- design · painting · collecting · decorative art
- Education
- Corpus Christi College
- Languages
- English
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Documentary summary
Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe, (9 January 1945 – 31 March 2026) was an Irish designer, artist, musical instrument collector and decorator.
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Documentary evidence
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Authority files
wikidata · Q16466784 · wikipedia · Alec Cobbe
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Alec Cobbe • Birth Name — Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe • Born — 9 January 1945 • Birthplace — Dublin, Ireland • Died — 31 March 2026 • Place of death — Surrey, England • Occupation — Designer, artist and musical instrument collector • Illustration — Newly discovered Titian's "Portrait of a Lady and her Daughter" from Cobbe's collection
Life and career
Life and career
A member of the Cobbe family, Cobbe was born in Dublin on 9 January 1945. He moved to Newbridge House with his family upon the death of his father. Cobbe studied medicine at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and underwent his clinical training at the London Hospital. Cobbe gave up his study of medicine to become a painter and trained as an art conservator at the Tate. From the early 1980s Cobbe advised on the redecoration of historic British country houses. Solo exhibitions of his paintings have been held in Paris at the Galerie de Staël, and in London at the Maclean Gallery, the Bury Street Gallery, and the Royal Danish Embassy. He donated his design archive to the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and an exhibition was held at the V&A of his work in 2013. The Cobbe Collection, Cobbe's collection of historic musical instruments is kept at Hatchlands Park, a National Trust property that Cobbe leased from 1984. On 25 July 1970 he married the Honourable Isabel Anne Marie Henrietta Dillon, daughter of the 20th Viscount Dillon. He was uncle to the Olympic gold medal winning rower Constantine Louloudis. On 13 February 2026 Cobbe was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).. He died at home on 31 March 2026, at the age of 81.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Richard Alexander Charles Cobbe. His recorded language was English. He was the child of Francis Charles Cobbe and Joan Mervyn Cobbe. He married Isabel Dillon. 4 children are recorded: Frances Cobbe, Thomas Cobbe, Rose Cobbe and Henry Cobbe.
Identity
Identity
Alec Cobbe is recorded with the occupation interior architect. Recorded with the occupation amateur painter. Recorded as painter, designer, art collector, architect and calligrapher.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1945
Alec Cobbe was born on 1 September 1945.
2026
Alec Cobbe died on 31 March 2026.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q16466784: Alec Cobbe
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Alec Cobbe”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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Secondary witness
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People, houses and institutions
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Born at
1- NewbridgePlace
Established from a fact already recorded on a verified source.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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