Library and Archive Reading Rooms
View by appointment- 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'.