W.H. Auden; Christopher Isherwood; Stephen Spender

Identify sitters

by Howard Coster
half-plate film negative, 1937
Transferred from Central Office of Information, 1974
Photographs Collection
NPG x2948

Sittersback to top

Wystan Hugh ('W.H.') Auden (1907-1973), Poet. Sitter in 43 portraits. Identify
Christopher William Bradshaw Isherwood (1904-1986), Novelist. Sitter in 29 portraits. Identify
Sir Stephen Harold Spender (1909-1995), Poet and critic. Sitter associated with 53 portraits. Identify

Artistback to top

Howard Coster (1885-1959), Photographer. Artist associated with 9350 portraits, Sitter in 5 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This group portrait, taken in Howard Coster's London studio, was one of fifteen poses showing Auden and his fellow writers Isherwood and Spender. Auden had known Isherwood since childhood and met Spender, who had published his first set of poems, at Oxford. At this time Auden and Isherwood were collaborating on several works, including the plays The Ascent of F6 and On the Frontier. Earlier in 1937, Auden had spent two months in Valencia working for the Spanish republic in the civil war. His experiences inspired the propagandist poem 'Spain':

Linked publicationsback to top

Pepper, Terence; Strong, Arthur, Howard Coster's Celebrity Portraits, 1985 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 28 June - 8 September 1985), p. 45

Placesback to top

Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (photographer's studio, Essex Street, London)

Subject/Themeback to top

Group portraits

Events of 1937back to top

Current affairs

George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.

Art and science

Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East London

International

Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'
Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Buy a print

Order this print today

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this portrait?

Join & Support

Framed & unframed prints

Choose your favourite portrait from our Collection as a framed or unframed print for your home.

Buy now

360° sculptures

Look right round a selection of sculptures in our Collection

Explore today

Who's Who

Explore who is who in our group portraits

See this portrait

W.H. Auden; Christopher Isherwood; Stephen Spender