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  • Letters, drawings and a sketchbook from John Banting to Humphrey Spender
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  • Letter from John Banting to Humphrey Spender

John Banting, recipient: John Humphrey Spender

Letter from John Banting to Humphrey Spender

[c.1970]

Letter from John Banting to Humphrey Spender

Created by
John Banting 1902–1971
Recipient
John Humphrey Spender 1910–2005
Date
[c.1970]
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© Estate of John Banting. All Rights Reserved 2023 / Bridgeman Images

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Created by
John Banting 1902–1971
Recipient
John Humphrey Spender 1910–2005
Title
Letter from John Banting to Humphrey Spender
Date
[c.1970]
Format
Document - correspondence
Collection
Tate Archive
Acquisition
This collection was presented to the Tate Archive by Humphrey Spender in 1997.
Reference
TGA 9717/1/34

Description

In this letter, sent from Hastings, Sussex, John Banting writes how his recent meeting with Humphrey Spender was all too brief. He refers to Spender's teaching at the Royal College of Art and that he too has been doing a little teaching. He also mentions that few galleries now show much interest in his own work but that he does not care much.
He goes on to mention how relieved he is that Spender did not commit suicide after the death of 'Lolly' [Margaret Low]. He marvels at the changing world, 'I hope you are as happy as may be when...the world is committing suicide' and that 'if it is reached, the year 2000 will have produced a new form of human species'.
He ends by referring to Ed Burra's life long disability, but that it has 'not quenched his zest for life'.

Read more

Vorticism Surrealism

Archive context

  • Letters, drawings and a sketchbook from John Banting to Humphrey Spender TGA 9717 (36)
    • Correspondence, loose sketches and proof prints from John Banting to Humphrey Spender TGA 9717/1 (35)
      • Letter from John Banting to Humphrey Spender TGA 9717/1/34
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