Architectural study (interior and exterior) for the West end of Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere (recto)

Spencer's work at the Sandham Memorial Chapel had been commissioned by Mr and Mrs J.L. Behrend as a memorial to Mrs Behrend's brother, Lieutenant Henry Willoughby Sandham who had died as a result of illness contracted during the Macedonian campaign in the First World War. The content of the painted images was based on Spencer's reminiscences of Macedonia and other sources and were the fulfilment of an idea which he conceived whilst on active service. Having chosen Spencer as artist, they chose Lionel Pearson as their architect to combine almshouses with Spencer's chapel. Interestingly, the design of the chapel was closely related to the Arena Chapel in Padua, where Giotto (a great favourite of Spencer's) was employed to carry out a series of frescoes. At first, Spencer thought of taking the analogy further, by painting in fresco, but after a series of experiments he wisely reverted to his familiar medium of oils on canvas. On 25 March 1927 the Oratory of All Souls, Burghclere, was dedicated by the Bishop of Guildford. Coincidentally or not, the date of the feast of the Annunciation was that on which Giotto's Arena Chapel had been consecrated some six centuries earlier. (see D. Robinson, Stanley Spencer at Burghclere, London, 1997, pp.4,6).

Pearson incorporated many of Spencer's suggestions, both stucturally and in the detailing. The present drawing shows designs for the west end of the chapel which were not carried out.