Frances Spalding
- Born:
- July 23, 1943, London, England
- Nationality:
- British
- Profession(s):
- Art Historian, Biographer, Critic, Editor
Early Life and Education
- Educated at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she earned a BA in English Literature.
- Furthered her education with a BLitt degree from Oxford.
Career and Major Achievements
- Served as a Lecturer in Art History.
- Held the position of Art Critic for several prominent publications, including The Burlington Magazine and The Sunday Times.
- Authored critically acclaimed biographies of artists and writers, establishing herself as a leading biographer.
- Appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
- Served as an editor for various art historical publications.
Notable Works
- Vanessa Bell (1983)
- British Art Since 1900 (1986)
- Stevie Smith: A Biography (1988) - Winner of the Whitbread Biography Award.
- Gwen Raverat: Friends, Family and Affections (2001)
- Duncan Grant: A Biography (1997)
Legacy and Impact
Frances Spalding has made significant contributions to the field of art history and biography. Her meticulous research and insightful analyses have shed new light on the lives and works of prominent artists and writers of the 20th century. Works such as Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant are considered definitive biographies. Through in-depth analyses such as those found in British Art Since 1900, and biographies like that of Stevie Smith, Frances Spalding, the real and the romantic are brought to life for the reader. Her work continues to be influential in shaping the understanding of British modernism.