Top 8 Quotes & Sayings by Stanley Spencer

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an English artist Stanley Spencer.
Last updated on April 15, 2025.
Stanley Spencer

Sir Stanley Spencer, CBE RA was an English painter. Shortly after leaving the Slade School of Art, Spencer became well known for his paintings depicting Biblical scenes occurring as if in Cookham, the small village beside the River Thames where he was born and spent much of his life. Spencer referred to Cookham as "a village in Heaven" and in his biblical scenes, fellow-villagers are shown as their Gospel counterparts. Spencer was skilled at organising multi-figure compositions such as in his large paintings for the Sandham Memorial Chapel and the Shipbuilding on the Clyde series, the former being a First World War memorial while the latter was a commission for the War Artists' Advisory Committee during the Second World War.

Hilda and I slept alongside each other fully dressed, head to feet.
Everything has a sort of double meaning for me, there's the ordinary everyday meaning of things, and the imaginary meaning about it all, and I wanted to bring these things together, and in this first big Resurrection of mine you have a good example of this sort of thing.
Painting is saying "Ta" to God. — © Stanley Spencer
Painting is saying "Ta" to God.
When I lived in Cookham I was disturbed by a feeling of everything being meaningless.But quite suddenly I became aware that everything was full of special meaning and this made everything holy... I observed this sacred quality in most unexpected quarters.
Wherever a cat sits, there shall happiness be found.
I love to dwell on the thought that the artist is next in divinity to the saint. He, like the saint, performs miracles.
Do you know what good art is? It is saying "ta" to God.
I wish to have no status as a man. I am equally content to be a worm or a rat, and am only glad that I am not becuase they have such a rough time without the pleasure of painting.
This site uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. More info...
Got it!