Fernlea, Cookham

The present work depicts the area behind Spencer’s house, Fernlea, in Cookham. Completed shortly after Spencer returned from the First World War, the work is deliberately peaceful, as Keith Bell notes, with the maids going about their work around the dustbins and coal sheds, undisturbed. It is an early example of Spencer’s interest in recording everyday domestic activities in Cookham, in this case, seen within the context of his own childhood: a child, probably representing the artist, or his brother Gilbert, gestures on the roof of an outbuilding in the top-left of the painting (see K. Bell, loc. cit.). The figures in the composition show direct links to his contemporaries David Bomberg and William Roberts and indicate that it was at this time that he felt himself most clearly involved in the modern movement in Britain.

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