This was shocking. Jean Cooke's art is beautiful. I also clicked through to the Guardian article and was shocked again that his second relationship "muse" stayed with him. I'm coming to distrust men who have a muse. It usually involves control. My ex brother in law insisted that his new wife didn't work once they were married. This was the mid 1980s for heaven's sake! She was a highly trained nursing sister. He was in the merchant navy and away for weeks at a time. I remember going to visit her for the first time with my new husband, her brother. She was sitting in this pin-neat modern house, with a neat garden, just whiling away time. I just couldn't get my head around it. I have to admit I disliked the brother in law intensely and viscerally the first time I met him, and he also felt the same about me because I must have been giving off strong vibes of "I wouldn't stand for this shit". Thankfully they are now divorced, at her instigation, but what a waste of a life.
I think Jean Cooke's story is important and, after her seeing her beautiful work, I found her story very difficult to tell. As much as I found John Bratby's behaviour appalling, it was those around them that turned a blind eye to what was clearly happening that angered me. As the story of your sister shows, such control still goes on, and I am relieved she managed to leave, though it must have been incredibly difficult for her. Thank you, Linda, for reading it and for your message.
Oh my, how sad for her, but what a remarkable artist she was! This is a lovely post. To follow up, I just read the Painters of Today book about John (available on the Internet Archive), which was published in 1961. This provides a descriptive biography of sorts about him, his art and his writing (followed by a number of his pictures), and I kept reading looking for the author to mention Jean Cooke and her art (which in my opinion is much better than his!), but there was no mention of her by name (that I could see), other than being called ‘the wife’ on p.20… I’m glad that she is getting the recognition she deserves now.
It is infuriating that he was so lauded and that she received so little recognition. I much prefer her paintings and it must have shown real courage to continue painting against such an oppressive figure. I shall look up Painters of Today ( what a brilliant resource it is ) as I am curious too. Thank you for reading it and I am glad you liked the post and her work.
It is shocking, isn't it? I also knew of him, but not her. He was lionised during that period and they clearly turned a blind eye to his behaviour. I am so glad you love her work too and thank you for reading it.
I was married to someone who laughed at my paintings, appropriated the ream of arches paper I was given as a farewell present by my colleagues, insisted on standing outside the phonebooth (this was a long time ago) when I made my Sunday night calls to my family 500km away (we lived remotely, off the grid, and the phone booth was a mile away down a dirt road). I won’t share the rest, least said, soonest mended. Fortunately he found someone else, and I have remained steadfastly single for over thirty years. Once bitten….
Oh India, I am so sorry...Such things then, and I am sure now, often remain hidden or ignored. I was furious researching this at how many turned a blind eye to what went on in Jean Cooke's life. The painting she submitted, when she became an RA, was the other one with her with a black eye and not one comment was made by the committee. They were all in such in awe of Bratby's talent that she didn't seem to matter. Thank goodness you got out.
I must admit it did strike an uncomfortable chord, and I thought twice about responding as I tend to be fairly private, but I decided to write…in the interests of sisters who might be in similar positions. Thank you for your unflinching writing though. It is important that these things are brought out into the daylight.
I found it hard to write about, but it was impossible to avoid writing about her marriage or what happened later in life. There is a lovely film by her son about her too on Youtube. It is infuriating how he is better known than her...Thank you for reading it.
Oh my goodness, what a story. What women tolerated (and I fear still do) makes me angry and sad. Leaving a 25 year marriage must take enormous courage, and that's after one has accepted the realisation that one is a victim, with all the psychological damage that comes with that. But her paintings! I love that iris, so spare and pale, but strong at the same time. A metaphor for herself perhaps. I had not heard of Joan before, but I shall seek out those books.
I left out some of the details I discovered as they were so shocking. His behaviour was appalling and yet, it seems, people around them turned a blind eye. I think it is staggering she found the energy and self belief to produce such work. I fell in love with that painting and she really should be better known.
What a wonderful article. Thank you. And both fascinating and heart-breaking to hear about the amazing Jean Cooke. You're right her paintings should be better known.
I think it extraordinary she quietly achieved all that she did. I was so struck by that painting when I saw it. It seems her work rarely goes on the market as those who bought her paintings rarely let it go.
Thanks Deborah, a really worthwhile read, as ever. I loved the Jean Cook paintings, particularly ThroughThe Looking Glass. The colours in the Grebe photographs are wonderful.
She was astonishing, wasn't she? It is so infuriating that she is not known as well as John Bratby, her work I think is far better. The grebes are such a joy as and fingers crossed all he's well for them
Thank you very much, Ann, and for sharing it too. Somehow my previous response to you disappeared. She had such a difficult life and yet somehow she managed to create such remarkable work. I loved researching her and am very glad to have seen that picture on that day.
Thank you very much. I have loved Mary Stewart since reading her a teenager and it is marvellous to read her again now. Nine Coaches Waiting is such a treat and certainly my favourite of her novels so far!
Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking story. Such a lovely, talented lady, married to a brute. I knew of him, but not of her. The self portrait with the black eye is shocking. People she knew clearly knew what he was like- how could they condone it? Her paintings are wonderful. I love your grebe!
This was shocking. Jean Cooke's art is beautiful. I also clicked through to the Guardian article and was shocked again that his second relationship "muse" stayed with him. I'm coming to distrust men who have a muse. It usually involves control. My ex brother in law insisted that his new wife didn't work once they were married. This was the mid 1980s for heaven's sake! She was a highly trained nursing sister. He was in the merchant navy and away for weeks at a time. I remember going to visit her for the first time with my new husband, her brother. She was sitting in this pin-neat modern house, with a neat garden, just whiling away time. I just couldn't get my head around it. I have to admit I disliked the brother in law intensely and viscerally the first time I met him, and he also felt the same about me because I must have been giving off strong vibes of "I wouldn't stand for this shit". Thankfully they are now divorced, at her instigation, but what a waste of a life.
I think Jean Cooke's story is important and, after her seeing her beautiful work, I found her story very difficult to tell. As much as I found John Bratby's behaviour appalling, it was those around them that turned a blind eye to what was clearly happening that angered me. As the story of your sister shows, such control still goes on, and I am relieved she managed to leave, though it must have been incredibly difficult for her. Thank you, Linda, for reading it and for your message.
Oh my, how sad for her, but what a remarkable artist she was! This is a lovely post. To follow up, I just read the Painters of Today book about John (available on the Internet Archive), which was published in 1961. This provides a descriptive biography of sorts about him, his art and his writing (followed by a number of his pictures), and I kept reading looking for the author to mention Jean Cooke and her art (which in my opinion is much better than his!), but there was no mention of her by name (that I could see), other than being called ‘the wife’ on p.20… I’m glad that she is getting the recognition she deserves now.
It is infuriating that he was so lauded and that she received so little recognition. I much prefer her paintings and it must have shown real courage to continue painting against such an oppressive figure. I shall look up Painters of Today ( what a brilliant resource it is ) as I am curious too. Thank you for reading it and I am glad you liked the post and her work.
It is shocking, isn't it? I also knew of him, but not her. He was lionised during that period and they clearly turned a blind eye to his behaviour. I am so glad you love her work too and thank you for reading it.
Oh how fascinating. And that clip of her. And the painting with the turtle! Thank you for doing the work on this piece!!
Thank you, Rebecca!
I was married to someone who laughed at my paintings, appropriated the ream of arches paper I was given as a farewell present by my colleagues, insisted on standing outside the phonebooth (this was a long time ago) when I made my Sunday night calls to my family 500km away (we lived remotely, off the grid, and the phone booth was a mile away down a dirt road). I won’t share the rest, least said, soonest mended. Fortunately he found someone else, and I have remained steadfastly single for over thirty years. Once bitten….
Oh India, I am so sorry...Such things then, and I am sure now, often remain hidden or ignored. I was furious researching this at how many turned a blind eye to what went on in Jean Cooke's life. The painting she submitted, when she became an RA, was the other one with her with a black eye and not one comment was made by the committee. They were all in such in awe of Bratby's talent that she didn't seem to matter. Thank goodness you got out.
In my case it was “emotional violence” , not physical …. to the outside world he appeared charming and delightful. So no black eyes.
It’s appalling that nobody took notice of the obvious hurts that were being done to Jean.
That is equally awful, if not worse, as it is so cowardly. I hope reading the post didn't cause you distress.
I must admit it did strike an uncomfortable chord, and I thought twice about responding as I tend to be fairly private, but I decided to write…in the interests of sisters who might be in similar positions. Thank you for your unflinching writing though. It is important that these things are brought out into the daylight.
It was very brave of you to do so and I am glad you did. Thank you x
Thank you for your courage...your very name sounds like a literary hero 😊
Such a sad story but remarkable too. Loved the video clip of the interview with her. She definitely should be better known.
I found it hard to write about, but it was impossible to avoid writing about her marriage or what happened later in life. There is a lovely film by her son about her too on Youtube. It is infuriating how he is better known than her...Thank you for reading it.
I’ll look that one out!
Always so much to enjoy here Deborah, which is why it often takes me a few days to make space to enjoy it properly - thank you
Thank you, Mark, it is lovely of you to read it.
Oh my goodness, what a story. What women tolerated (and I fear still do) makes me angry and sad. Leaving a 25 year marriage must take enormous courage, and that's after one has accepted the realisation that one is a victim, with all the psychological damage that comes with that. But her paintings! I love that iris, so spare and pale, but strong at the same time. A metaphor for herself perhaps. I had not heard of Joan before, but I shall seek out those books.
I left out some of the details I discovered as they were so shocking. His behaviour was appalling and yet, it seems, people around them turned a blind eye. I think it is staggering she found the energy and self belief to produce such work. I fell in love with that painting and she really should be better known.
Gosh, it must have been horrible.
What a wonderful article. Thank you. And both fascinating and heart-breaking to hear about the amazing Jean Cooke. You're right her paintings should be better known.
I think it extraordinary she quietly achieved all that she did. I was so struck by that painting when I saw it. It seems her work rarely goes on the market as those who bought her paintings rarely let it go.
It is amazing. Her paintings are so beautiful.
I think so. She needs shouting about!
Thanks Deborah, a really worthwhile read, as ever. I loved the Jean Cook paintings, particularly ThroughThe Looking Glass. The colours in the Grebe photographs are wonderful.
She was astonishing, wasn't she? It is so infuriating that she is not known as well as John Bratby, her work I think is far better. The grebes are such a joy as and fingers crossed all he's well for them
My first visit. I came across you by accident and have enjoyed your article very much on Jean Cooke
Welcome and I am so pleased you found your way here. Jean Cooke was such a rich discovery and I am so glad you enjoyed the piece.
Beautiful and heartbreaking. What a remarkable survivor she was, and deeply sad that she had so little opportunity to live fully.
Thank you very much, Ann, and for sharing it too. Somehow my previous response to you disappeared. She had such a difficult life and yet somehow she managed to create such remarkable work. I loved researching her and am very glad to have seen that picture on that day.
A hard read, as you say, Deborah, but so much to admire in Cooke's work. I really enjoyed the wild plums. Thank you for another wonderful essay.
I love her garden paintings, they are so immersive. Thank you very much for sharing it.
Heartbreaking and harrowing. It’s a marvel that she produced so much beauty in the three daily hours granted her by a monstrous husband.
Isn't it? But I am so glad she did.
Fascinating and disturbing. Thank you. Not the main point, but so glad you enjoyed Nine Coaches Waiting. I think it’s my favourite Mary Stewart.
Thank you very much. I have loved Mary Stewart since reading her a teenager and it is marvellous to read her again now. Nine Coaches Waiting is such a treat and certainly my favourite of her novels so far!
Thank you for sharing this heartbreaking story. Such a lovely, talented lady, married to a brute. I knew of him, but not of her. The self portrait with the black eye is shocking. People she knew clearly knew what he was like- how could they condone it? Her paintings are wonderful. I love your grebe!