▲ Stanley Spencer (British, 1891-1959) 'Maid at the Gate'

pencil on canvas, squared for transfer, 160.5 x 209cm; unframed, Christie's, London, 'The Stanley Spencer Studio Sale', 5 November 1998, lot 287, where acquired by the present owner. Please note this work is to be offered with no reserve. The present work relates to another unfinished oil from circa, 1952 entitled ', Maid, at the Gate', , as well as a drawing of the same subject, both of which were, also, offered in the Stanley Spencer Studio Sale at Ch, ristie's in 1998. The works were, intended for, Spencer's, never-realised ', Church House', series, , which was, to, follow, on, from, the, Sandham, Memorial Chapel, Burghclere, , which focused on the theme of his military service in the First World War, . The House itself was meant to, celebrate, unity and, love, and his, beloved hometown, of Cookham. While it was never, built, he, produced, a series of works which were eventually intended to occupy this space. The works surrounding the, subject, of the, maid, at the gate were part of an intended series of paintings, on, the theme of the Marriage at Cana, . The, depicted, event in the present work takes place in, Cookham, , and Spencer produced a large, body of material, on this, subject, including 16, additional, large-scale drawings. Of the subject Spencer wrote:, 'In writing out a scheme celebrating the marriage at Cana, it is reasonable to have thought...of it as a child when in surroundings and directly bearing on this, In writing out a scheme celebrating the marriage at Cana, it is reasonable to have thought...of it as a child when in surroundings and directly bearing on this, great event, . How often I was to be filled with wonder as a child when in the kitchen I would hear the burble of a party going on in the dining room and look expectantly at the servant when she returned from taking something into the dining room in the hope of hearing what was happening.', . How often I was to be filled with wonder as a child when in the kitchen I would hear the burble of a party going on in the dining room and look expectantly at the servant when she returned from taking something into the dining room in the hope of hearing what was happening.' (Tate 733.10.8) We are grateful to Carolyn Leder for her kind assistance in cataloguing the present work. We are grateful to Carolyn Leder for her kind assistance in cataloguing the present work. Condition Report, Condition Report, The canvas tension is loose with a number of small creases. The pencil is faint in places with a little smudging. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

Estimate:$10,706.13

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