Sir Stanley Spencer, R.A. (1891-1959)

Boys' Garden was painted while Spencer was staying with his friend Kate Morrell and her family in Edgbaston, Birmingham, in March 1957. Spencer visited the Morrell's home several times, seeing it as a kind of refuge. Boys' Garden shows part of the Morrell's garden where their sons played, and the cart, 'den', rope ladder and upturned bucket indicate their recent games in a charming domestic scene.

Letters from Spencer to Kate Morrell and her husband Bill (private correspondence) date their growing friendship to between Spring 1957 and June 1959, and they allude to their common interest in his painting. In a conversation with Carolyn Leder, Daphne Charlton mentioned that Kate Morrell owned drawings of her children by Spencer, made during one of his visits to their home. She suspected that Kate had introduced Spencer to Joyce Smith, in whose house at Dewsbury, Yorkshire, Spencer painted his final Self-Portrait in July 1959. Unity Spencer, youngest daughter of Stanley, taught one of Kate Morrell’s sons at The Downs Malvern school, at Colwall, Herefordshire.

We are very grateful to Carolyn Leder for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.