Three previously undiscovered paintings by the celebrated artist Sir Stanley Spencer will be offered by Bonhams in the 20th Century British and Irish Art sale on the 30th May.
The three landscapes, all unrecorded in the catalogue of works by Spencer, depict scenes of Cookham, the village where Spencer was born and spent much of his life: Cookham Reach and Barley Hill (est. £20,000 -30,000), Black Butts (est. £20,000 – 30,000) and Bellrope Meadow (est. £25,000 – 35,000).
Two of the paintings were given by Sir Stanley Spencer to his older brother Percy and the third to the wife of a close friend. All three paintings have come from the deceased estate of the artist’s niece, Pamela Spencer, and they have never been exhibited in public before.
Matthew Bradbury, Director of 20th Century British and Irish Art department comments, “It is very rare to find unknown paintings by Sir Stanley Spencer and Bonhams is excited to offer these works in our upcoming sale. Professor Bell, the leading authority on the artist, is delighted to learn of them and will compile the catalogue entries.”
Bonhams will also offer a number of works by Gilbert Spencer, Sir Stanley Spencer’s younger brother, from the same property in the sale.
