Jack Rake (1901-1986) The physician who wanted to be an artist Supporting
Jack Rake (1901-1986) Art and medicine brought two people together - Sir William Coldstream (1908-1987), who became a distinguished British artist who wanted to become a doctor and Dr. John Jack Rake (1901-1986), a doctor who wanted to become an artist. Both belonged to notable medical families. Jack Rake was reading Classics at Brasenose when his father had his first coronary attack. He later died in 1926. Rake, unhappily, was forced to switch to Medicine and to follow the life of his father as a country physician. It was through Rake s Oxford friend C.G. Hamilton-Dicker, who left Keble College, Oxford, to study at the Slade, that Rake was introduced to Coldstream, who was also an art student there. Rake had recently taken up a post at Guy s Hospital. Given their respective common interests they formed a friendship which was to stay with them for the rest of their lives. Coldstream was taught by Henry Tonks, Slade Professor of Fine Art, who was a trained surgeon and noted for his colour illustrations of horrific wounds encountered by soldiers in WW1. Coldstream was to become a professional artist with a figurative observational style, who was associated with W. H. Auden, Benjamin Britten, Stephen Spender and many cultural figures of the 20th century. Although Coldstream was fascinated by transcribing the human figure visually, he could never become a practising doctor. Rake, however, was a professional doctor who could become a practicing artist, albeit as a part-time painter. Yet, both were connected intimately to people and the human condition. The notable collection of Rake s paintings presented here is a clear indication of the two approaches Coldstream s singular clinical factual observation, as seen in the portrait of Sonia Brownell, and Rake s various painting styles; from the lyrical paintings such as Fishing Nets at Arles [1], By the Shore [27] and Landscape with Ploughed Field [101], to the abstract images of By the light of the Moon [19], Still Life with Grapes and Glass [91]. Rake even went as far as to experiment with pointillism, such as Hungerford Bridge [97] and Barges on the Thames [90]. Most of Rake s professional life was spent in the Oxfordshire village of Shenington. He became the physician to Lord Bearsted who lived at Upton House, just over the border in Warwickshire, often visiting his extensive art collection. The local landscape became an inspiration for Rake to paint, resulting in Winter in Oxfordshire [9] and Village of Wroxton, Oxfordshire [25]. On retirement Rake moved to Cazouls-d Herault in the South of France and continued to paint the landscape as seen in his 'Cezannesque', Provence [80] and The Herault 3 [82]. In the early 1970 s Rake returned to London and painted familiar scenes. One such painting is The Garden 12 Jeffrey s Street [108] where he lived in Camden Town and where I would occasionally meet him and Coldstream. By the 1980s Rake s painting became bold and 'Matisse-like' in his handling of paint, line and colour as seen in Geranium [23]. There is little doubt that Rake was committed to art as he was to his life as a skilled caring doctor, the testament of which is seen in these lively, engaging and remarkable, democratic paintings. Peter T J Rumley. Author of the William Coldstream Catalogue Raisonné.
Jack Rake (1901-1986) 1. Fishing Nets at Arles 1966 32 x 39cms 2. Lizzie Cardus with son 1968 31 x 25cms 3
6. The Herault 1 1965 31 x 31cms 7. The Herault 2 1966 31 x 31cms 4
8. Across the River Thames 1969 25 x 30cms 9. Winter in Oxfordshire 1955 24 x 29cms 5
19. By the Light of the Moon 1974 Oil on Paper 27 x 22cms 21. Po3ed Plant 1975 Oil on Paper 30 x 22cms 6
22. S%ll Life with Green Bo3le 1981 Oil on Paper 25 x 32cms 23. Geranium 1984 Oil on Paper 46 x 36cms 7
24. Dry River Bed 1964 Oil on Canvas 41 x 56cms 25. Village of Wroxton, Oxfordshire 1950 37 x 31cms 8
26. The Chapel 1936 36 x 30cms 27. By the Shore 1955 Oil on Paper 22 x 29cms 9
29. Farmhouse 1974 Oil on Paper 24 x 30cms 31. Lion Tombstone 1974 36 x 40cms 10
33. Path to the River 1975 36 x 30cms 34. An A1ernoon by the River 1957 Oil on Paper 36 x 34cms 11
39. Girl and Tomato Plant 1973 71 x 61cms 48. Nursing Mother 1980 67 x 53cms 12
51. Bather 1 1978 Gouache on Board 38 x 61cms 55. Palace of Westminster 1975 Oil on Canvas 70 x 52cms 13
56. Canary Wharf from Wolfe Statue, Greenwich Park 1975 60 x 69cms 62. Family Group 1977 66 x 46cms 14
63. Bather 2 1978 Gouache on Board 39 x 61cms 69. Camden Garden 1984 61 x 61cms 15
80. Provence 1965 Oil on Paper 42 x 52cms 81. S.ll Life with Jug and Fruit 1981 41 x 51cms 16
82. The Herault 3 1976 42 x 46cms 83. Tomb 1978 26 x 32cms 17
86. Musicians 1979 30 x 32cms 87. Hungerford Bridge 1968 41 x 51cms 18
88. Bean poles, Maxted Street, Kent 1968 25 x 36cms 89. View over London from Hampstead 1976 23 x 23cms 19
90. Barges on the Thames 1975 30 x 38cms 91. S3ll Life with Grapes and Glass 1957 47 x 34cms 20
96. Flowers 1 1983 46 x 36cms 98. Flowers 2 1983 46 x 36cms 21
99. Fruit 1954 41 x 46cms 101. Landscape with Ploughed Field 1950 47 x 61cms 22
108. The Garden, 12 Jeffrey s Street 1984 92 x 72cms 119. The Alps 1934 22 x 29cms 23
Freedom from Torture, has been working for more than 30 years and aims to provide direct clinical services to survivors of torture who arrive in the UK. It strives to protect and promote their rights. Since its inception, over 50,000 individuals have been referred for help. I first met Dr. Jack Rake in the early 1960s - We later worked together in medical research in endocrinology at Guys Hospital. I knew at the time he was a keen artist but It was only much later I fully appreciated how extraordinarily accomplished he was, as shown by the current exhibition. I found that he was an enthusiastic supporter of what was then The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture a part of Amnesty International but later became the independent charity Freedom from Torture. It was Jack who first made me interested in, and a supporter of, the charity. I feel totally sure that he would be delighted to know that his paintings would be used to support Freedom from Torture. Sadly, the state of the world makes it ever more important for Freedom from Torture to support and care for survivors of torture who are seeking asylum in the UK. Professor Michael Maisey Chairman, London South East Support Group for Freedom from Torture The Greenwich Gallery November 1 st - 22 nd 2018