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Charles Allan Cooke
English World War 1 military Navy or Army Military Motor Ambulance Station

Circa 1916

$39,500
£30,083.54
€34,675.67
CA$55,260.23
A$62,108.85
CHF 32,344.65
MX$755,397.21
NOK 413,889.42
SEK 392,489.14
DKK 258,796.37
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About the Item

Charles Allan Cooke (British, early 20th century) Military Motor Ambulance Station, World War I, ca. 1916–1918 Oil on canvas, signed and inscribed on reverse In this powerful and rarely seen wartime composition, Charles Allan Cooke documents a moment of calm amid the urgency of conflict. Set within a cavernous military garage or depot, the scene shows stretcher bearers, medics, and officers tending to the wounded beside motor ambulances—some still bearing the red cross markings of the Royal Army Medical Corps. The artist’s restrained palette and quiet lighting lend the painting a solemn clarity, heightening the human presence within the utilitarian space. Cooke’s firsthand knowledge of military life is evident in the specificity of uniforms, the mechanical detail of the vehicles, and the natural posture of the figures. Rather than dramatize, he observes: we see no battlefield, but instead the mechanisms of war behind the lines—logistical, essential, and deeply humane. The composition’s deep perspective draws the viewer into the structure, where shafts of light filter in from the far doors, evoking a sense of routine effort and disciplined care. Signed and inscribed on the reverse, the painting stands as a rare visual testimony to the unsung labor of medical units during World War I. Cooke’s work transcends simple illustration—it serves as a document of resilience, comradeship, and the machinery of mercy amid a mechanized war. The painting came from a private collection in Maryland and is framed in a early 20th century hand carved American arts and crafts style frame.
  • Creator:
    Charles Allan Cooke (1878, English)
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1916
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 34 in (86.36 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    The painting is in original condition.
  • Gallery Location:
    Woodbury, CT
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU507316177502

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