Showing 3 results

This collection largely consists of correspondence to and from Stanley Spencer and his writings on himself, his paintings, religion and his relationships. The correspondence dates from the late 1930s, with the majority coming from the 1940s and 1950s. Important correspondents include: the British Broadcasting Corporation, Mary and Louis Behrend (patrons and founders of Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere), Spencer's sister Florence Image, his first wife Hilda, his children Unity and Shirin, John and Elizabeth Rothenstein and the Tate, and Arthur Tooth and Sons (his agents). The collection also contains Spencer's writings, notebooks and diaries. Spencer was a prolific writer who appeared to use his writings as an opportunity to expand or refine his ideas for paintings, and his personal thoughts. Along with his letters, the continuous writings, notebooks and diaries often contain detailed descriptions of his paintings, compositions and schemes; his opinions on art, life, philosophy, religion and sex; and his autobiography and preparation for a proposed book. The collection is completed by a number of sketches and drawings by Spencer, the majority of which relate to larger, painted works; and some printed ephemera including press cuttings, photographs, postcards, private view cards and exhibition catalogues.

A sketchbook by Stanley Spencer, c 1919-1924 with one loose sketch of Gilbert Spencer by Stanley Spencer, c 1906-1908.

The Sketchbook contains 37 pages with sketches on front and back of pages, 4 loose sheets and 2 torn pages. Most sketches are made in pencil. However, 12 sketches are finished in pencil and wash, and 1 sketch in pencil and oil.

The sketchbook spans Spencer's time spent with the Slessers in Bourne End from late 1919-1920, with Muirhead Bone and his wife at Petersfield in 1921 and his stay with Henry Lamb in Poole, Dorset in April 1923 where he produced designs for what would later become the Sandham Memorial Chapel at Burghclere. The sketchbook is significant in that it includes initial ideas for a number of post-First World War religious works, including some Tate-owned paintings, notably 'Christ Carrying the Cross', 1920, 'The Robing of Christ and the Disrobing of Christ', 1922, and 'The Resurrection, Cookham', 1924-26. It also includes a number of designs (many in pencil and wash) for Sandham Memorial Chapel at Burghclare which are amongst some of the earliest sketches that Spencer created for this commission.

The loose sketch of Spencer's brother, Gilbert Spencer, is a pre-Slade School sketch of c 1906-1908 of his magnum opus.

Alfred Wolmark was a painter whose range included figurative, landscape and graphic art. The papers and sketches in this collection reflect the various areas and influences in his life and work. The collection includes sketches, transcripts of his lectures, a diary, examples of posters and programmes designed by him, lists of his works, and correspondence with friends, associates and possible sitters.