PICTURES OF THE MONTH
From time to time we plan to choose a picture from the Gallery’s collection, including ones that have rarely been on display as well as some of Spencer’s best loved paintings.
February
ERIC WILLIAMS MC (1954)
Eric Williams was a renowned Second World War RAF hero who tunnelled out of Stalag Luft 3 under cover of a box vaulting horse. By the time this portrait was painted in 1954 he and his wife Sibyl were planning their own escape from conventionality, recorded in Williams’ book of 1957 ‘Complete and Free’, the dustjacket of which is illustrated with this picture. Spencer called him ‘a heluva chap’ and Sibyl said of Stanley ‘..he’s one of the few modern painters who have the humility to paint with care. He paints with love.’
Vistiors can view this portrait in the current exhibition Seeing the Unseen and can learn more about Spencer’s acute observational skills in our Weaving Stories series.
January
SWISS GIRL (c1933-1935)
Spencer was not a frequent traveller, but in 1933 he received a telegram from the businessman, Edward Beddington-Behrens, to join him in Saas Fee. “Come to the mountains,” the telegram said. “Nothing required except strong boots and a spirit of adventure.” Spencer rose to the challenge, and was soon reporting to his agent, Dudley Tooth, “I am having a magnificent time and hope to do a lot. I have done a little climbing and am a very steady walker. We had to ride mules to get here. Great fun. Yours Stanley.”
The Saas Fee trip and a subsequent Behrens-financed visit to Zermatt resulted in a large figure painting and a number of landscapes, that were bought by Behrens. Spencer also made a number of drawings of the local villagers including peasant women on their way to church in their richly embroidered native dress. The Stanley Spencer Gallery is fortunate to have three of Spencer’s Swiss drawings, including this charming pencil drawing of a girl.