Modern British Collector, Patron and Friend

21st May 2025

This portrait of Wilfrid Evill (1890-1963), a London solicitor, who, over a relatively short period built one of the most significant collections of contemporary British art of the mid 20^th century, shows the subject seated amid recently acquired works. Evill represented several artists legally and went on to hold a leading role as an elected buyer for the Contemporary Arts Society from 1946-56.

A lasting friendship with the artist Stanley Spencer (1891-1959) saw Evill form an unparalleled private collection of Spencer’s narrative work, with the solicitor occasionally accepting challenging and less popular pictures for more than fair prices in lieu of legal fees. The pair first met in 1928 when Evill was visiting Louis and Mary Behrend at Burghclere. The Behrend family had a fine collection of modern pictures and had commissioned Spencer to create a series of murals for the Sandham Memorial chapel in tribute to the forgotten dead of the Great War.

According to his own meticulously kept records, Evill’s first contemporary art purchase was Spencer’s ‘Stinging Nettles’ bought in February 1928. Evill’s relationship with Stanley Spencer deepened through the 1930s while acting as his lawyer. Together with Spencer’s dealer, Dudley Tooth, and other close friends, Evill played a role in keeping Spencer afloat as a key patron during a period of financial difficulties for the artist.

Gilbert Spencer (1892-1979) met Wilfrid Evill through his brother, Stanley, and this fascinating portrait (Lot 491) painted in 1931-2 demonstrates the remarkable collection already assembled by the solicitor in just four years. Depicted in the background are works by John Nash, Spencer Gore and Gilbert Spencer himself. An existing preparatory pencil sketch for this portrait held by the Gilbert Spencer estate, is dated 1929.

By the end of his life Evill was one of the most significant collectors of contemporary British art with a collection that expanded beyond the original generation of painters and sculptors with work by Sutherland, Craxton, Vaughan and Freud.

The Modern British and 20^th Century Art sale on 4^th June includes some outstanding examples of British landscape painting with pictures by John Nash, Spencer Gore and Charles Ginner. Other highlights include works by Graham Sutherland, Jacob Epstein, Mary Fedden, Joseph Crawhall and Stanhope Forbes. Lot 491 carries a pre-sale estimate of £4,000-£6,000 (before fees). Viewing begins on Saturday 31st May at our Old Sarum Galleries.