Charles Spencelayh
Encyclopedia
Charles Spencelayh was an English genre painter and portraitist in the Academic
style.
Spencelayh was born in Rochester in Kent
, and first studied at the National Art Training School
, South Kensington
. He showed his work at the Paris Salon
, but most of his exhibitions were in Britain. Between 1892 and 1958, he exhibited more than 30 paintings at the Royal Academy
, including "Why War" (1939), which won the Royal Academy ‘Picture of the Year’. He was also a founder member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters
.
Many of his subjects were of domestic scenes, painted with an almost photographic detail, such as "The Laughing Parson" (1935) and "His Daily Ration" (1946). He also painted still life
subjects including "Apples" (1951).
Spencelayh was a favourite of Queen Mary
, who was an avid collector of his work. In 1924 he painted a miniature of King George V
for the Queen's dolls house
.
On 17 December 2009, Spencelayh's masterpiece "The Old dealer" was sold at auction at Sotheby's
for over £345,000.
Academic art
Academic art is a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies of art. Specifically, academic art is the art and artists influenced by the standards of the French Académie des Beaux-Arts, which practiced under the movements of Neoclassicism and Romanticism,...
style.
Spencelayh was born in Rochester in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, and first studied at the National Art Training School
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
. He showed his work at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
, but most of his exhibitions were in Britain. Between 1892 and 1958, he exhibited more than 30 paintings at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, including "Why War" (1939), which won the Royal Academy ‘Picture of the Year’. He was also a founder member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters
Royal Society of Miniature Painters Sculptors and Gravers
The aims of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers are to esteem, protect and practice the traditional 16th Century art of miniature painting emphasising the infinite patience needed for its fine techniques. Its patron is His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.The society...
.
Many of his subjects were of domestic scenes, painted with an almost photographic detail, such as "The Laughing Parson" (1935) and "His Daily Ration" (1946). He also painted still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
subjects including "Apples" (1951).
Spencelayh was a favourite of Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
, who was an avid collector of his work. In 1924 he painted a miniature of King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
for the Queen's dolls house
Queen Mary's Dolls' House
Queen Mary's Dolls' House is a doll's house built in the early 1920s, completed in 1924, for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V.The idea for building it originally came from the Queen's cousin, Princess Marie Louise, who discussed her idea with one of the top architects of the time, Sir Edwin...
.
On 17 December 2009, Spencelayh's masterpiece "The Old dealer" was sold at auction at Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
for over £345,000.
Selected works
External links
- Spencelayh online (ArtCyclopedia)
- paintings by Specelayh (Art Renewal Center Museum)
- paintings by Spencelayh (Bridgemand Art Library)
- Biography of Spencelayh (Richard Green Fine Paintings)
- A lover of Dickens (Watercolour - Christie's)