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museum exhibitions schedule Nov 19, 2025 visibility 3 link 2 artists

Live conservation reveals hidden surprises of unfinished Spencer painting

A new exhibition at the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham, titled *Revealing Genius, Conserving Art: Stanley Spencer’s Final Masterpiece*, offers visitors a rare chance to watch conservator Olivia Leake work on Spencer’s unfinished painting *Christ Preaching at Cookham Regatta*. The large canvas, which Spencer labored over for over a decade but left incomplete at his death in 1959, has been lowered from its usual high hanging for live conservation. Using UV light and paint analysis, Leake has discovered surprising details: extremely thin paint layers, a green water area later overpainted in blue, and multiple changes to underdrawings—contradicting anecdotes that Spencer never altered his initial drawings.

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Works by Stanley Spencer 'never been seen before' to be auctioned this week

A collection of previously unseen artworks and personal memorabilia from the Stanley Spencer family archives will be auctioned this week. The sale, titled 'Kindred Spirits: The Artistic World of Sir Stanley Spencer,' includes drawings, paintings, early sketchbooks, letters, and personal artefacts that have never been published or exhibited. The collection was consigned by the Estate of Sir Stanley Spencer and offered by his grandson John Spencer, the last direct descendant, following the deaths of Spencer's daughters. The auction takes place at Dreweatts' Modern & Contemporary Art sale on July 10, 2025, featuring works by Spencer, his wife Hilda Carline, and his brother Gilbert Spencer.