Basil Ivan Rakoczi

Benny with his son, Tony,
in West Ireland @ 1940

 

Lost In A Forest - 1945

 

Boys diving - 1943

It seems quite remarkable that 2008, now 4 years back, saw the centenary of the birth of my grandfather, Basil Rákóczi. Perhaps even more remarkably it is now well over 30 years since his death in 1979.

Basil, or Benny as he was known to many of his family and friends, lived, in an understated way, a full life. He endured some difficult times in his early years which no doubt had major influences on him but he also had a deep capacity to bounce back from set-backs, to be creative and, above all, to be a true friend to very many people. As the years since his death have passed I have come to know more and more about my grandfather and, in one of those light ironies of life, feel I know him better now than when he was alive.

He painted throughout his life and there is a narrative that joins his work together which both reflected and advanced his journey. Benny was also a voluminous writer. He has a number of published books, a vast amount of contextual writings on a range of subjects, wrote articles for magazines, kept a daily journal and wrote autobiographical texts. And, as if that were not enough, he wrote copious letters to many many friends and acquaintances.

There continues to be, even after so many years since his death, a serious and continuing interest in his work. This interest has been particularly associated with his work in Ireland in the Second World War years and his leading role in the White Stag Group.
But it also extends before and beyond as Benny painted and drew from childhood until ill-health prevented him in his final years, in the late 70’s.

This continuing interest has led to the idea and production of a website.

The two key aims of this site are, firstly, to promote his work and provide a point of reference for those interested in the man and his work and, secondly, to support the gathering of information towards compiling a full documentation of all his works, a catalogue raisonne. This is a major piece of work and through this site I am appealing to people who may have information about my grandfather's works to contact me so that provenance information can be recorded. This year, 2008, seems also a fitting moment to launch the catalogue raisonne project as it marks the centenary of his birth.

This site will be regularly updated. We aim to add more information and news and pictures on view will change, so do keep yourself posted!

The site is completely run by Benny's direct family, myself as grandson with positive and critical support from my three children, all young adults now.

Through the art historian, Bruce Arnold, I met the art dealer Theo Waddington who has become a friend and represents the estate.
Theo has, over the last 8/9 years been responsible for several exhibitions being mounted - in London, Dublin and Belfast, as well as being responsible for involving the Irish Museum of Modern Art and helping to make the major White Stag Exhibition in 2005 at IMMA a reality.  Theo brings a genuine love of the artist’s works and allied to his high regard in the art world is a genuine asset to our aims. His own father, Victor, knew Benny personally and exhibited his work, well over 50 years ago now.

If you would like to contact us, the guardians of Benny's work, please click here. We would be delighted to hear from you.

With Best Wishes,
Christopher Rákóczi
Grandson  

© 2008 Basil Rakoczi