BRITISH COLUMBIA ARTISTS  

Margaret Eveline Wake (Miss)

April 16 1867 - October 13 1930

B.C. Society of Fine Arts (Member 1912-1930)
B.C. Society of Fine Arts/B.C. Society of Artists: Exhibitor's Timeline
Vancouver Studio Club and School of Art (Instructor)
British Columbia Artist (B.C.A., 1921)
Vancouver Exhibition (Fine Arts Committee)
Vancouver Sketch Club
Palette and Chisel Club


Margaret Wake was one of the earliest European-trained female artists to live and work in Vancouver. She was born in London, England in 1867, and took her art education at the Slade School in London and in Antwerp. According to the DICTIONARY OF BRITISH ARTISTS she was a still life and portrait painter living in London, and exhibited seven artworks in three exhibitions between 1893 and 1903. After arriving in Vancouver in 1911 she was active in a number of arts groups. She received numerous positive reviews of her artwork in exhibition.

She taught with Spencer Perceval Judge and Ann Batchelor at the Studio Club on Hastings Street. She later took summer excursions to Savary Island with Bachelor, where they rented a cabin.


"Capilano Mary Squamish Woman"

Wake exhibited with the B.C. Society of Fine Arts from 1912 to 1929, and her work was retrospectively exhibited in 1936, 1950, and 1960.

She exhibited with the Vancouver Sketch Club from at least 1917 to 1927.


1922 advertisement

She exhibited with the Vancouver Exhibition in 1924, 1925, and 1930, and was listed in the 1924 exhibition catalogue as a member of the Fine Arts Committee.

Wake also exhibited with the Royal Canadian Academy in 1921 and 1926.

She died in Burnaby in 1930 at the age of 63.


GROUP EXHIBITIONS
DATE EXHIBITION ARTWORK
1911 November BCSFA   Fall Exhibition (portrait group in oils)
In The Kitchen
Caught
1912 Nov. 25 - 30 BCSFA   Annual Exhibition Portrait of Miss Nora Southwell
Still Life
1913 June 2 Wanderbund Club   Group Exhibition ?
1915 April BCSFA   Works by Members "Nothing to Say"
Master Briton Brock
Sketch of Mrs. Malkin
Pathway in Stanley Park
Study
Sketch of Master Philip Malkin
Portrait
Ice Cream Store
1916 September BCSFA - Annual Exhibition Daughter of the Empire
Charlotte of the Mayfair
1917 May 5 Sketch Club    Exhibition (portrait of a young girl)
1917 September 14 - 22 BCSFA   11th Annual A Portrait
Pathway Through Woods
Jean
Margaret
Washing Day
1917 December 1 Sketch Club    Exhibition (titles not known)
1918 Feb. 2 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition (titles not known)
1918 April Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition (portraits in oils)
1919 Sept. 6 - ? Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition Indian Basket Seller
1920 Feb. 7 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition Miss Molly Frame
1920 September 18 - 25 BCSFA   Annual Exhibition Indian Woman
Study of a Child's Head
1920 Dec. 4 - ? Sketch Club    Annual Exhibition Anne Jeremy (portrait)
A Child's Head
Sophia
Sophia (sketch)
Miss Kathleen Wake
1921 Sept. 19 - 24 BCSFA   13th Annual Peonias
Old Shack, Savary Island
Capilano Mary
The Woods
Gertrude Kellett
1921 Nov. 5 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition (landscape)
1922 Sept. 16 - 23 BCSFA   14th Annual Cottage on Seaton St.
Green's Shack, Savary Island
Poppies
1923 March 3 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition (portrait sketch of a lady)
1923 May 12 - 19 BCSFA   15th Annual Stanley Park
Portrait Sketch
1924 Feb. 2 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition Harry
1924 May 3 - 17 BCSFA   16th Annual A Shady Path
Raymond Pelligrew
Flowers of Spring
Mary Henderson
1924 Aug. 9 - 16 Vancouver Exhibition   Annual Exhibition Flowers of the Spring
Mary Henderson
Landscape
Mainland From Savary Island
1925 May 9 - 16 BCSFA   17th Annual A Gypsy
1925 Nov. 28 - Dec. 5 Sketch Club    Semi-Annual Exhibition Poppies
1926 May 8 - 15 BCSFA   18th Annual Charles Quick (Saddler)
Sophie
Kathleen Groves
Poppies
1926 Nov. 6 - 20 Palette and Chisel Club   First Exhibition (portrait - girl)
(portrait - girl)
(portrait - Indian woman)
1927 April 2 Sketch Club    Monthly Exhibition (portrait of a gentleman)
1927 June 10 - 25 BCSFA   19th Annual Miss Faith Henderson
Trees at Savary Island
Sketch of a Baby
Miss Given Brooks
1928 Feb 18 - Mar 18 Palette and Chisel Club   Exhibition Malcolm
Anemones
Lund, B.C.
Mrs. Barney Groves
1929 May 18 - June 8 BCSFA   21st Annual Portrait, Mrs. A.J. Pilkington
1930 May British Empire Academy, London Sophie
1930 Aug. 6 - 16 VanExh   Oil Paintings & Water-colours Broom at Savary Island
1936 June 26 - July 12 BCSFA   26th Annual Sophie, Squamish Indian
1946 July 2 - 28 VAG   Jubilee Exhibition Sophie
Stanley Park
Sophie - Squamish Indian
Capilano Mary
1950 April 25 - May 14 BCSA   40th Annual Kathleen

References

THE FINE ARTS IN VANCOUVER, 1886 - 1930 (refer to THOM69)

EARLY PAINTERS AND ENGRAVERS IN CANADA (refer to H70)

THE DICTIONARY OF BRITISH ARTISTS 1880 - 1940 (refer to DBA76)

ROYAL CANADIAN ACADEMY OF ARTS - EXHIBITIONS & MEMBERS 1880 - 1979 (refer to RCA81)

FROM DESOLATION TO SPLENDOUR (refer to FDTS77)
      See biographical summary and colour illustration pages 79-82.

ARTISTS IN CANADA 1982 - UNION LIST OF ARTISTS' FILES (refer to AIC82)

BRITISH COLUMBIA WOMEN ARTISTS 1885-1985 (refer to AGGV85)

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX OF ARTISTS IN CANADA (refer to BIAC03)
      3 references cited for Wake, including RCA above.

CITY & PROVINCIAL DIRECTORIES 1913-14/1918-21/1927-28 (refer to DIR)

B.C. VITAL STATISTICS ON-LINE death (refer to BCVS)

https://westendvancouver.wordpress.com/biographies-a-m/biographies-b/batchelor-anne-1867-1963/

Clippings

"This year's exhibitors were ... Miss Margaret Wake ... "
      From "Fine Arts Society Makes Fine Exhibit"
      Vancouver Daily World, November 23 1911

"Miss Margaret Wake's portrait group in oils was the only one in this class. Her water-colors, "In the Kitchen" and "Caught," are done with broad handling, and the modern spirit of this artist, who has been thrice hung in the Royal Academy, no doubt instilled some much-needed impetus into the more conservative methods of other exhibitors."
      From "Our Germ Of Art" by Eugene de Lopatecki
      British Columbia magazine, December 1911

"The pictures showed up strongly against the buff-toned walls and the miniatures and photos were arranged on flower-decked tables. The principal exhibitors were ... Miss Margaret Wake ...
       From (Wanderbund Club Exhibition)
       Vancouver Sun, June 3 1913

"Margaret Wake has evidently studied in good schools. She has a free and broad method, and while her "Daughter of the Empire", No. 18 (?) has a tendency to diffuseness, it is decidedly effective, and as a local subject is very intereseting. This artist, however, is far better, in the mind of the present writer, in her "Charlotte of the Mayfair", No. 82, which is a work of much vitality."
      From "With The B.C. Artists" by "A Visitor"
      Vancouver Province, September 27 1916

"By popular vote, Miss Margaret Wake won first place among the professionals, with a portrait of a young girl ... "
      From "Social Notes"
      Vancouver Daily World, May 7 1917

"The aboriginal inhabitants are not forgotten either, being represented by works by Miss Margaret Wake ... "
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts - An Appreciation" by R.A.H.
      Westminster Review, September 1917

"At their new quarters in the Victoria block, the Vancouver Sketch Club had an interesting exhibition on Saturday afternoon. Among the exhibitors were ... Miss Wake ... "
      "Many Visitors At Sketch Club"
      Vancouver Daily World, December 3 1917

"Sketches were sent in by the following: ... Miss Wake ... "
      From "Sketch Club Display"
      Vancouver Daily World, February 4 1918

"Among members who have had the advantage of European training in the continental schools are Margaret S. Wake ... "
      From "Eleventh Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts" by Bernard McEvoy
      Studio Magazine, London England, February 15 1918

"Miss Margaret Wake's chief contributions were portraits in oils, showing excellent technique and feeling."
      From "Miss Neilson Terry is Guest of Sketch Club"
      Vancouver Daily World, April 1918

" ... "Indian Basket Seller" by Miss Wake."
      From "Sketch Club Opens Winter Season's Work"
      Vancouver Daily Province, September 8 1919

"Miss Wake was represented by a fine portrait in oils of Miss Molly Frame; ... "
      From "Sketch Club Has Resumed Exhibitions"
      Vancouver Daily World, February 9 1920

"Miss Margaret Wake displays a number of pictures very good in color and well drawn; her figure sketch "In The Studio", is an example of real draughtsmanship."
      From "Freshness and vitality in Exhibition of Vancouver Sketch Club"
      Western Woman's Weekly, June 5 1920

"For some time the meetings and exhibitions of the club were held at the studio of Miss Wake, but about two years ago an independent studio was secured at the present quarters, 342 Pender street west. This location has become known for its art associations, the building having also contained the studios of such well known artists as Mr. Thos. W. Fripp, Miss Margaret Wake, Miss Isabel Weir, and Mr. Norman Hawkins."
       From "Sketch Club Is Well Organized" by I.B.
       Vancouver Province, July 17 1920

"In the Loan Exhibit members represented were ... Miss Margaret Wake ..."
      From "Vancouver Sketch Club Takes Part in Exhibit"
      Western Woman's Weekly, September 18 1920

"Miss Margaret E. Wake's portrait in oils was a charming child life study, and her "Gay Bunch Of Flowers" in an old blue china pottery jar, was happy and cheering."
      From "Vancouver Sketch Club"
      Western Woman's Weekly, October 9 1920

"Miss Margaret E. Wake had a very fine group of portrait work on view and everyone was delighted with the portrait of little Anne Jeremy, a baby of two years old. Miss Wake is particularly successful in painting children, and Vancouver is more than fortunate in having such a gifted portraitist in her midst. Miss Wake shows another beautiful child's head, a portrait of the Indian Sophia, and a little sketch of Sophia in the studio. Sophia believes in the H.C. of L. as she demanded three times the usual price of sittings as soon as the picture was started - and one day demanded a fish dinner as reward for her labor. Miss Kathleen Wake was shown in a fine picture looking at a little dove perched on her finger."
      From "Annual Exhibit by Sketch Club"
      Vancouver Province, December 6 1920

"The exhibitors were: ... Miss Wake, landscape; ... "
      From "Many View Sketch Club Exhibit and Much Work Shown"
      Vancouver Sun, November 7 1921

"On this principle I would single out two pictures as being most satisfying. One is a portrait (119) "Capilano Mary," by Margaret A. (sic) Wake; there is a restraint and power in the treatment of the Indian woman's head that is very compelling ... "
      From "Pictures at B.C. Fine Arts", by J. Butterfield
      Vancouver Province, September 19 1921, page 12

"In portrait work attention has already been called to M. Margaret Wake's picture of an Indian woman, a solidly painted piece of work."
      From "By the Way in Art" per B.C. Art League
      Vancouver Province, Thursday October 6 1921, page 12

" ... two canvases have a dominating effect on the room as they face each other from opposite ends. These are the portrait sketch of a lady by Miss Margaret Wake ... (continues) "
      From "Vancouver Sketch Club"
      Vancouver Province, March 5 1923

"A rapid preliminary survey of the walls of the B.C. Society of Fine Arts Exhibition in the School Board offices on Hamilton Street reveals two pictures of outstanding merit where all are good. One is a portrait and the other is a landscape - for want of a better name. ... by Margaret Wake, and its name is "Stanley Park"; it comprises a set of emotions that lead from the foot of a great cedar trunk to the dim vistas of eternity; it illuminates the spirit of a place rather than the form of definite objects. Its name is negligible but I suppose a picture must have a name - it has become a custom. The great tree itself has been treated as if it really had character and life, not as a mere totem pole with a pattern on the trunk. It is only by its association with its surroundings that you can tell it is a tree at all. The lighting effect that has been attained reflects the true spirit of the inner woods and the workshop of nature."
      From "B.C. Fine Arts Society Exhibition (First Notice)"
      Vancouver Province, May 15 1923

"Again Miss Margaret Wake scored in figure work with the head (in pastel) of a boy, an extremely natural study from life worthy to rank with several other interesting studies from her hand during the last year."
      From "Sketch Club Exhibit Held"
      Vancouver Daily World, February 4 1924

"Miss Wake's "Harry" is a joyous piece of work. One feels sure the child has just been playing with his dog. There is a tenderness still in the eyes. The artist has caught the sweet unselfconsciousness of childhood."
      From "Impressions of the Sketch Club" by Alice M. Winlow
      British Columbia Monthly, March 1924

"Among the portraits a head of Raymond Pelligrew, by Margaret Wake, is a notable child study, round - almost sculptural - full of the mischievous life of childhood, potential and compelling."
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts - Annual Exhibition All This Week"
      Vancouver Province, May 7 1924

"A new fine arts committee for 1924 has been struck as follows: ... Mrs. Gilpin and Miss Wake, representing the Vancouver Sketch Club"
      From "Will Feature B.C. Artists"
      Vancouver Province, May 10 1924

"In "Flowers of Spring" by Margaret Wake there are dewy tulips of mauve, rose, yellow, and full-blown delicate pink flowers. A mass of lovely color against a background so painted that the flowers stand out like living blooms."
      From "Exhibition of the B.C. Society of Fine Art" by Alice M. Winlow
      British Columbia magazine, June 1924

"A beautiful still life study of "Poppies" by Miss Margaret Wake called for special admiration."
      From "Private View Precedes Sketch Club Exhibition"
      Vancouver Province, November 30 1925

"Miss Margaret Wake has three good portrait studies, two of girls and one of an Indian woman."
     From Palette and Chisel Club by Diogenes
     Vancouver Province, November 6 1926

" ... and Margaret Wake, another stand-by and valiant friend of the club, exhibited a telling portrait of a gentleman who had passed his youthful prime long enough to have strongly marked features."
      From "By The Way In Art"
      Vancouver Province, April 4 1927

"Margaret Wake has three dashingly strong portraits in her well-known vigorous style."
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by Bernard McEvoy
      Vancouver Province, April 28 1928

"Miss Wake, who hails from London, laid the foundation of her successful art career at the Slade School, London, and exhibited there both at the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute of Painters in Oil Colours. She has been a resident of Vancouver for many years, and has exhibited at the Royal Academy, Ottawa. Incidentally it may be mentioned that she is a descendant of that Herward the Wake made famous by Charles Kingsley in his novel of that name, and who for eight years after the conquest of England held out against the Conqueror. The seat of the Wake family in England is Corteen Hall, Northamptonshire. Miss Wake painted "Sophie," a finely executed piece of work representing another well-known old indian woman. This has been frequently exhibited in Vancouver, and is now the property of Mrs. A.J. Pilkington, the wife of the City Comptroller."
      From "The City Art Gallery" by G.H. Lardner
      Museum and Art Notes, Vol. IV, No. 1. March 1929

"Many friends of Miss Margaret Wake, who for some years has been well known in this city as a painter of distinction, will regret to hear that she is seriously ill. It may be news to some of them than an outstanding success came to her at the May exhibition of the British Empire Academy in London, this mission of which, in its own words is to "Promote, aid and unite all the arts throughout the Empire."
      From "Margaret Wake" by G.H Lardner
      Vancouver Province, July 11 1930

Obituary
      Vancouver Sun, October 16 1930

Obituary
      Vancouver Star, October 16 1930

"Margaret Wake, a vigorous painter and a steadfast member of the society for long, is well represented by a portrait of Miss Ruth Henderson. It is full of color, broadly painted, and it attracted a good deal of notice. Miss Wake has also some flower pieces painted with a dashing brush."
      From "B.C. Society of Fine Arts" by Diogenes
      Vancouver Province, November 13 1930

"The Society membership has been constantly strengthened in the succeeding years by the addition of other members, which included in the early years ... Margaret Wake ... "
      From "B.C. Society of Artists - A History" by J.D. Parker
      B.C. Society of Fine Arts 40th Annual Exhibition Catalogue, 1950


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