SIR STANLEY SPENCER, R.A. (1891-1959)

Professor Keith Bell has noted that the present work is likely the working drawing for Unveiling Cookham War Memorial (1921-1922), which was commissioned by Sir Michael Sadler. Whilst the subject is unusual in being about a specific event, it does address his own interest in Cookham, and his recent experience of the War. Spencer wrote of the oil, ‘It was intended to express the absence of hurry … and to express the peaceful life that I visualised people could live if there was no war’ (K. Bell, loc. cit.).

We are very grateful to Professor Keith Bell for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.