Stanley Spencer and Distortion

Professor Nigel Rapport 

On Mon 17th February Nigel Rapport (Professor of Anthropology, St Andrews University) gave a fascinating talk to a packed Gallery based upon his research into the subject of distortion in Stanley Spencer's art.  

He shared insights on a number of Spencer's more contentious figure paintings including the strange contorted couples featured in The Beatitudes of Love  series.  He pointed out how Spencer himself was aggrieved by critisism of these paintings and at pains to dispel any suggestion that were satirical in content.  Spencer wrote 'Whatever may be thought of me, the truth is evident in my pictures that everyone of these people are the beloved of my imaginings' (TAM 166).  

Stanley Spencer, Beatitudes VI; Consciousness,1937

Professor Rapport is planning a book on the subject and spent several days studying the Gallery archives to add to his research.