Look at yourself
looking out of the frame,
all snaggle-toothed with glasses.
Look at the flesh
on show, the tints
of pinks, off-whites and yellow.
Look at how
these things happen now,
miracles and parables for today.
Look at the dead
resurrecting and reuniting,
daisy fresh, as if they’ve never been away.
Look at Cookham,
Glasgow, Macedonia
and Heaven all made magical, seen anew.
Look at yourself
unabashed and naked,
staring us down from the pages or walls.
Look at how
you imagine each of us
among your lovers and neighbours.
Look at us looking
all these years later,
entranced by the paintings you made.
© Rupert M Loydell
Stanley Spencer Self Portrait, 1959
.
I visited the gallery in Cookham a few years ago. Not so much to see there. However I was able to purchase lots of postcards of his work. There is at least one lovely Michelin rated pub, The White Oak there as a reward. His commitment to Christianity is of no concern to me at all. What’s relevant are his interpretations that blur the dogma. His art really is quite good.
Comment by Paul Goettlich on 13 September, 2026 at 2:42 amHi Paul, I haven’t been to Cookham for a few years but always found it fascinating when I did. The war memorial chapel is worth visiting too. Best though was the massive retrospective at the Barbican back in 1991. He had his own intriguing take on most things I think, be that relationships, spirituality or painting!
Comment by Rupert on 13 September, 2026 at 8:18 pm