Leg of mutton nude
Encyclopedia
Double Nude Portrait: The Artist and his Second Wife 1937 (also known as the leg of mutton nude portrait) is an oil on canvas painting by British artist Stanley Spencer
. It depicts Spencer and his soon-to-be second wife, Patricia Preece
, beside a raw leg of lamb. The painting is sexually charged: Spencer's second wife was a lesbian
in a long-term relationship when they married, and their marriage was never consummated. The painting is held by the Tate Gallery
, which describes it as "probably now Spencer's most famous picture".
The painting is one of seven portraits that Spencer painted of his wives between 1933 and 1937, all nude or semi-nude: one of his first wife, Hilda Carline; four of his second wife, Patricia Preece; and two double portraits of Spencer and Preece together. Unusually for Spencer, who usually painted portraits from memory, these seven were painted from life.
Spencer and Preece are depicted naked, painted in an explicitly realist style, with close attention to the tones and textures of the skin of the subjects. Spencer squats at the rear of the painting, naked but for his spectacles, looking down pensively at Preece. Preece reclines across the painting, with her arms behind her head and legs spread. Both bodies are only partially visible, cut off by the frame. Beside Preece, in the foreground, sit a raw leg of lamb and a lamb chop - which Spencer described as "the uncooked supper" - with a Valor
oil heater
in the background. The uncooked meat may be representative of Spencer's unconsummated relationship with Preece.
The large work, 83.8 centimetres (33 in) by 93.7 centimetres (36.9 in), was painted at Lindhurst, Spencer's house at Cookham
, which he occupied from 1932 to 1938. It was bought by the Tate Gallery
in 1974.
Stanley Spencer
Sir Stanley Spencer was an English painter. Much of his work depicts Biblical scenes, from miracles to Crucifixion, happening not in the Holy Land but in the small Thames-side village where he was born and spent most of his life...
. It depicts Spencer and his soon-to-be second wife, Patricia Preece
Patricia Preece
Patricia Preece , born Ruby Vivian Preece, was an English artist associated with the Bloomsbury Group and the second wife of painter Stanley Spencer, for whom she modelled. As a teenager, Preece was involved in the death of dramatist W. S. Gilbert...
, beside a raw leg of lamb. The painting is sexually charged: Spencer's second wife was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
in a long-term relationship when they married, and their marriage was never consummated. The painting is held by the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
, which describes it as "probably now Spencer's most famous picture".
The painting is one of seven portraits that Spencer painted of his wives between 1933 and 1937, all nude or semi-nude: one of his first wife, Hilda Carline; four of his second wife, Patricia Preece; and two double portraits of Spencer and Preece together. Unusually for Spencer, who usually painted portraits from memory, these seven were painted from life.
Spencer and Preece are depicted naked, painted in an explicitly realist style, with close attention to the tones and textures of the skin of the subjects. Spencer squats at the rear of the painting, naked but for his spectacles, looking down pensively at Preece. Preece reclines across the painting, with her arms behind her head and legs spread. Both bodies are only partially visible, cut off by the frame. Beside Preece, in the foreground, sit a raw leg of lamb and a lamb chop - which Spencer described as "the uncooked supper" - with a Valor
Yale & Valor
Yale & Valor was a company in Birmingham that manufactured locks and gas fires. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange.-History:In 1890, the Valor Company Ltd. was formed in Birmingham for manufacturing oil-storage cabinets. Later it diversified into paraffin and subsequently gas heaters...
oil heater
Oil heater
An oil heater, also known as an oil-filled heater, oil-filled radiator, or column heater, is a common form of convection heater used in domestic heating...
in the background. The uncooked meat may be representative of Spencer's unconsummated relationship with Preece.
The large work, 83.8 centimetres (33 in) by 93.7 centimetres (36.9 in), was painted at Lindhurst, Spencer's house at Cookham
Cookham
Cookham is a village and civil parish in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire in England, on the River Thames, notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer. It lies north of Maidenhead close to the border with Buckinghamshire...
, which he occupied from 1932 to 1938. It was bought by the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
in 1974.