The Burslem Boys – Christmas letter from Shelton to Cope, 1943
The war years saw Burslem School of Art go through what has been described as a purple patch. 1943 was a fruitful year in that Arthur Berry, John Shelton (Hancock) and Norman Cope were all at the school, under the watchful eye of Reginald Haggar.
By way of a follow-up to the earlier letter, enclosed is subsequent correspondence written by John Hancock (later Shelton) to his friend Norman Cope in December 1943. Given the subsequent turn of events and the death of Norman Cope at the Christmas ball, John’s words: “I shall be looking forward to seeing you on the 16th. I wonder if Berry will be coming home too…” are particularly poignant.
98 Ashford Street
Shelton
Stoke-on-Trent
Dec 1st 1943
Dear Norman
Many thanks for your letter. Sorry to learn you have not been well. I was very interested to hear about Maxwell.
Your remark about “Painting and Knowing never go together” – the same thing has been bothering me for some time now. The more I get to know about the subject the less satisfied with my efforts I become and yet to stop would be madness. I have not done anything worthwhile since Berry and I saw you in Edinburgh. Like you I do not get enough time at weekends and can’t possibly leave a work one weekend to another. Thanks for your Van Gogh story – it did amuse me especially as Haggar had previously been talking to me about Corman.
Photo courtesy of Michael Cope and Helen Jones.
I have just returned from the exhibition and I am sorry to say there have only been two sales (excluding yours and Berry’s sold to the school). Joy Withers has sold a — fancy doll and Ivy Jackson has sold a flower painting but that is all.
Your work is hung well. You have a batch on each wall and there has been some local critisism. To quote the Evening Sentinel, “Norman Cope goes out for modernism with a too persistent strain of ugliness. He has too much ability to disperse it so largely in this direction. His etching of Albert Cope is very good in technique and characterisation.“
Berry only entered six works. I will not try to criticise them but they are (perhaps you know them) – The Prodigal Son, Woman’s Head, Street Scene, Card Game, Boxing Match and one abstract. It is some of his older work. The only recent one I have seen of his is “The Blind leading the blind”. To quote the Evening Sentinel again it says – “Arthur Berry also is imaginative in a ‘modern’ manner. His ‘Blind leading the blind’ is rhythmic and symbolic – rather impressive.“
Yarwood has got a self portrait in oils on paper. Not very good.
Wendy Jackson has done a self portrait in oils but the trouble is she has not painted it. It’s just a tined canvas.
I will let you know if you do sell anything – there are only three more days to go.
I did remember you to La Goddard piece and she writhed like a snake. She still talks a lot about you, but she is silly. I have received no news from Hopkinson.
I shall be looking forward to seeing you on the 16th. I wonder if Berry will be coming home too.
I am very disappointed in the exhibition from a financial point of view. I could have done with some money. Will write you again if anything happens.
Yours sincerely,
John.
P.S. Please send your letters to private address not the school.
Letter kindly supplied by Michael Cope.
