How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

During the Second World War Spencer was appointed an official war artist in 1940 and the Committee commissioned a painting 'of shipbuilding and a painting of an aerodrome'. In May 1940 Spencer travelled to Port Glasgow to work at Lithgows's ship yards. He filled innumerable sketchbooks with plans for a complete series of paintings detailing the activities of the yard. A scaled-down version of the plan was eventually accepted by the committee and Spencer set to work. By 1943 his enthusiasm has begun to wane and he turned to a project closer to his heart: the celebration of Port Glasgow in a large painting some 15 metres across with Christ seated in Judgement on the Hill of Zion as figures rise from their graves. In the event such a huge work proved impractical, but Spencer endeavoured to retain part of his original scheme and 'The Resurrection, Port Glasgow', although much modified became the main section, whose central picture 'The Hill of Zion' (collection of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston) was inspired by the shape of the hill on which Port Glasgow cemetery was sited.

British Council Collection

London

Title

Port Glasgow Cemetery

Date

1957

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 50.8 x W 76.2 cm

Accession number

P61

Acquisition method

purchased from the Bedford Gallery, 1958

Work type

Painting

British Council Collection

British Council, 1 Redman Place, London, Greater London E20 1JQ England

View venue