1 OF 4 
Humphrey Spender
1 of 4 portraits by Jan Siegieda
© reserved; collection National Portrait Gallery, London
Share this
Humphrey Spender
by Jan Siegieda
bromide print, 1978
10 5/8 in. x 8 1/2 in. (270 mm x 215 mm)
Purchased, 1980
Photographs Collection
NPG x8516
Sitterback to top
- Humphrey Spender (1910-2005), Photographer, artist and designer. Sitter in 3 portraits, Artist or producer of 15 portraits.
Placesback to top
- Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, Essex (sitter's studio, Ulting, nr Maldon, Essex)
Events of 1978back to top
Current affairs
The country is brought to a virtual standstill as workers in the private and public sector strike over the government's decision to restrict wage increases. As more workers joined the strikes rubbish piled up in the streets, petrol stations ran short, and storage space had to be hired for unburied coffins. The period became known as the 'winter of discontent'.Art and science
Louise Brown from Oldham in Greater Manchester becomes the world's first 'test-tube baby'. The 'in vitro' fertilisation procedure was a scientific breakthrough that has given thousands of infertile couples the opportunity to conceive.Iris Murdoch wins the Booker prize with her novel. The Sea, the Sea.
International
Karol Józef Wojtyla becomes Pope John Paul II. He was the only Polish Pope and the first non-Italian Pontiff since the 16th century. During his 26-year pontificate, John Paul was recognised for his efforts to reach out to other religions and his fight against poverty and oppression. He has also, however, been criticised for his conservative attitudes towards divorce, contraception, homosexual marriage and the ordination of women priests.Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Czesław Jan Siegieda
27 October 2018, 16:23
Humphrey Spender, the artist and younger brother of the poet Stephen Spender, was perhaps best known for his Worktown Study photographs of Bolton.
Humphrey enjoyed some success as a painter, but it is for his photographs that he has become increasingly revered, especially those taken for Mass Observation in Bolton in 1936. The negatives remained stored in tins for 40 years from 1937, until rediscovered following their transfer to Sussex University.
I shot this portrait of Humphrey at his Essex home in 1978 ... The Studio, Utling, nr Maldon. I was helping with printing of his Bolton photographs.