Stanley Spencer (1891 - 1959) was an English painter.
He was born and lived in the Thames-side village of Cookham in Berkshire, where the Methodist Chapel he attended is now a gallery dedicated to his art. He studied at the Slade School of Art in London from 1908 to 1912 under Henry Tonks and others; such was his attachment to his home that he commuted from Cookham to the Slade, earning thereby from other students the nickname "Cookham".
Spencer developed a naïve style, influenced in part by the colourful primitivism of Paul Gauguin. He held deep Christian beliefs, and many of his works were religious in nature. Some, such as Resurrection Cookham (1923-27), set Biblical scenes in Cookham and depicted the villagers as characters from Scripture. His finest work, according to many critics, may be seen at Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere. Stanley Spencer served as a war artist in World War II and was knighted in 1959.
Last updated: 10-12-2005 10:49:49
