In the Chapel

Details

SIR STANLEY SPENCER, R.A. (1891-1959)
In the Chapel
pencil on paper
12 x 7 in. (30.5 x 17.8 cm.)
Executed circa 1921-22.

Provenance

Lady Spencer.
Acquired from Piccadilly Gallery, London in August 1989.

Exhibited

London, Piccadilly Gallery, Sir Stanley Spencer, R.A.: A collection of paintings and drawings, September - October 1978, no. 20.

Special notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Amelia Walker Director, Specialist Head of Private & Iconic Collections

awalker@christies.com +44 20 7389 2085

Lot Essay

Richard Carline suggests that the present work is likely to be a scene in Cookham Church. Following the death of his brother Sydney in action in 1918, Spencer became resolved to one day build a memorial chapel. The resulting Sandham Memorial Chapel at Burghclere (completed in 1932), would become one of the most singular and captivating memorials of the First World War. It is clear from the present drawing that Spencer already had plans in mind for a series of frescoes in a chapel before he embarked upon the Sandham Memorial Chapel (see K. Bell, exhibition catalogue, Sir Stanley Spencer, R.A.: A collection of paintings and drawings, London, Piccadilly Gallery, 1978, n.p.)

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

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