Austin Osman Spare
These
two watercolours on card have recently become available.
Red Head 14ins x 11ins Watercolour on paper. An example
of his sidereal art, the proportions of the face fall into place when the image
is viewed from an angle
Green Drawing 16ins x 10ins Pencil and
water colour wash
Those interested in new items should also view the "Deviation
from Venus of Milo" fwl19-1-9 in the Frank Letchford Collection below. This
image is exhibited for the first time.
Original Artwork by Austin Osman Spare from the collection of Mr.
Frank Letchford
The following images are from the collection of Mr. Frank
Letchford. This gentleman was a very good friend to Austin Osman Spare.
Supporting him when he was homeless and injured following the bombing of his
home during the War. This he did, even though he was stationed on the other side
of the world. At the end of the war Mr. Letchford obtained from his sister Vera
a folder of images of film stars from popular magazines. This he lent to Spare
who practiced his portrait skills on them. In association with many of these
portraits of film stars Spare compiled an aphorism which expressed his views on
morality, religion and the human condition. Perhaps he was inspired by the
format of one of the first books he illustrated, the Starlit Mire by James
Bertram 1911. He certainly used this title again during this period. These
aphorism are akin to those that were collected together in the Logomachy of Zos,
one of the components of the Book of Zos which was finally published by Fulgur
Press and is available now (click here
for details). Images of film stars became a component of some of Spares most
curious and overtly occult work. As with radio, film arrived during Spare's
adult life. Perhaps images upon the silver screen had a magic in his eye which
over familiarity dulls in ours. The same may be true of radio too, with its
voices coming from the aethyr, Spare actually built radio receivers and
incorporated occult imagery into the cases.
If you click upon the Order
Reference number you will see an image of the picture described. You can then
return to this list by clicking the "BACK" button on your web
browser.
Pencil drawings are here presented in greyscale (ie monochrome)
with the loss of natural paper colours. Even more than the colour images, these
can only give some inkling as to what the original looks like. The images are
here presented with electronic frames, in the real world, unless otherwise
stated, the images are generally unframed.
Still, and Unstill, Life
A polar
bear
Coloured pencil on paper 10ins x 7ins (c.1944)
Order Reference
fwl21-2-9
"Memorial to a Poetaster
etc…"
Pencil and pastel on paper, 5 sheets 1947 14ins x 9ins plus two
sheets handwritten notes by Frank Letchford. In these notes he notes the
Memorial image was written for a poet who had visited the 1947 Archer Gallery
Exhibition. The poet invited Spare to a poetry reading but one gathers that he
was unenthusiastic about the prospect of being asked to sit on the floor!. Mr.
Letchford notes the items drawn in this series of still lifes, recording that
some were bought by Spare for him or Kenneth Grant. The paper for these sketches
was a dark brown
Order Reference fwl28-4-1
Further images at:- fwl28-4-a, fwl28-4-b, fwl28-4-c, fwl28-4-d, fwl28-4-e, fwl28-4-f
"Burning the Book of W…, Reflection & Refraction"
Pencil
drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 Some marks. Enigmatic four panelled work,
the figure on the left is Nuit, Egyptian Goddess of the Universe, so crucial to
Crowley's magico-religious system of Thelema. £200 (SOLD)
fwl26-3-10
"God & Goddess"
Pencil drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) Tape marks top and bottom of
image
fwl27-3-13
Female Bust
& Goblet
Pencil drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 Tape marks top
and bottom.
fwl27-3-15
Female bust, Goblet,
Fruit
Pencil drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 Tape marks top and
bottom.
fwl27-3-17
Come to
the Sabbat - images of witches and their
kin.
"Grotesque"
Spare incorporates his initials and the
title into the image of this gnarled man drawn with pencil and coloured with
pastel upon a postcard (5.5ins x 3.5ins). In pencil on the reverse in Frank
Letchford's hand (?) is a note stating it is from H.S. Reitlinger's Collection.
fwl3-12
"The
Resurrectionists: Witches Re-calling their Dead"
Pencil drawing on paper
(11ins x 9ins) 1954 Tape marks left & right margins. Of this drawing Mr.
Letchford wrote "curious contortions, again showing Spare's instinctive drawing
of the human body through knowledge andd memory of anatomy & musculature.
Fine grouping within the general scheme.
fwl27-3-18
"The Magic
Circle"
carbon copy (10ins x 6.5ins) A male figure (Spare?) sits in a
somewhat contorted position within a circle. On his left a female sphinx? And a
twisted man. Like externalised kundalini energy lines surge up from him creating
daemonic and angelic figures. Yellowing tape along top edge.
fwl27-3-21
Sabbat Scene
Carbon
copy. (10ins x 8ins) Curiously angular for Spare in this context. Tape on right
margin, tape mark on left. Two drawing pin holes along top edge. Reverse of
paper is printed with following text:- AUSTIN SPARE'S SCHOOL OF DRAUGHTSMANSHIP
½ (MILITARY & CIVIL CAMOUFLAGE) ½ AUSTIN SPARE (OFFICIAL ARTIST) ½ BERNARD
GRANT (ASSISTANT) ½Office: ½ 17, LEYDON ST. ½ ALDGATE, E.1.
fwl27-3-14
Sabbat Scene
. Pencil
drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 Swirling multiform figures swirl upwards.
We see mummies, daemons, horses, humans and who knows what. Perhaps a perception
of the life force unbounded. Reminiscent of the Witches Sabbath & Axiomata
figures.
fwl26-3-5
Sabbat
Scene
Pencil drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954
fwl26-3-6
"Ascent"
. Pencil drawing
on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 Slight marks. A vision of life energy arising from
death?
fwl26-3-8
"Dwellers of
the Bottomless pit"
Pencil drawing on paper (11ins x 9ins) 1954 (or
possibly 1952) Slight marks.
fwl26-3-7
Strange Rites
"The
Novitiate"
Pencil & watercolour on card c.1920's possibly exhibited
in St. George's gallery in 1927 as item No. 14. At this period Spare had a
fascination with the religious rites of pre-industrial societies. Here a young
woman awaits initiation.
fwl10-41
"Laughing Druids"
Watercolour and pencil on card 6ins x 7ins
c.1903 (when Spare was 17!) Shows Spare'e early interest in pagan cults. In this
year he had two bookplates exhibited at the Royal Academy - the youngest
exhibitor of the year. There is some darkening to the image which this jpeg
exaggerates as the picture was not removed from its mounting when scanned.
fwl6-23
"African Frieze"
Watercolour
& pencil on paper 12ins x 5ins Mr Letchford describes it thus "Nine
semi-nude male and female African tribes folk, beautifully drawn in pencil with
blue washes - work of his 1920's period.
fwl-7-29
"Corroboree"
Pencil & watercolour on board 10ins x 15ins
1920's This rite has entered the occult Zeitgeist. Originally a funereal rite it
was experienced as a dream by the prominent Wiccan Pat Crowther, and following
this became adopted as the 1st degree initiation ritual of Dianic (all female)
Wicca.
fwl7-28
untitled
Described by Mr. Letchford thus:- "Brown habited
priests (of some suspect religious order, doubtless!) lost in a mysterious green
moonscape. Typically spooky beautifully executed watercolour" 9ins x 14ins
c.1928.
fwl8-30
"Morning
Prayer"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins) A prayer by
Spare to the Self, here referred to as Adonai. Also has references to masks.
Some further text partially erased. (c.1946-7) fwl21-2-3
Landscapes (and sometimes the
inhabitants!)
Pencil on paper. Strange figures in a strange
landscape. (7ins x 10ins c.1944-5).
fwl21-2-7
Pencil on paper. Strange figures in
a strange landscape. (7ins x 10ins c.1944-5).
fwl21-2-8
Small Landscape 4ins x 6ins pencil
drawing on 11ins x 9ins sheet, faint tape mark affecting top of drawing, other
tape marks on sheet 1954 £50 (SOLD)
fwl27-3-19
Blue Pencil on paper. Automatic sketch trees and figures (7ins x 10ins
c.1944-5).
fwl21-2-11a
Soukh
Scene
On reverse Mr. Letchford notes "Austin Osman Spare, artist
extraordinary, loved the evocative ruin - Zimbabwe, Pompeii, Angkor Watt in
Cambodia, also caverns, caves, twisted tortured trees, vines soaks, craters,
pyramids, monoliths. Late 1946 - Brixton Spare taking a pupil or two post
WW2"
fwl2-6
See also the figure study fwl18-64-b
Figure Studies
Female Acrobat
Pencil & pastel on paper 13" x 8ins Initialed by Spare c1944-5
fwl19-1-12
"Deviation from
Venus of Milo"
Initialed by Spare. A more sexual being than her
namesake! Pencil & pastel on paper 13" x 8ins c1944-5
fwl19-1-9
"Design for a Statue
Typifying Poise, Statue of the Castrated Pollux"
Four studies in pastel
& pencil on both sides of two leaves 8ins x 6ins
fwl12-52-a, fwl12-52-b, fwl12-52-c,
fwl12-52-d
Nude study
chalk on
paper 15ins x 22ins. Fixed in one corner is a caption by Frank Letchford " Chalk
sketch done by Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956) during his personal "Refresher
Course" at the City & Guilds Art School, Kennington - which he attended as a
youth and returned the at the age of 69 prior to an exhibuition at a local pub.
His nude studies sold quickly - this would be 1955 at the age of 69. His comment
on the students was that he had more in one day than the lot put together in one
week! It must have been strange to see this fierce disheveled old chap in his
tatty clothing frightening away the life class students into another room -
leaving him to fix the model how he wished! This man had an operation involving
removal of ribs hence his back was dished" On reverse is a landscape. The
corners are a little dog eared and have many drawing pin holes from when it has
been pinned to the wall (please note the line down the image is an artefact of
the scanning process and not present in the original)
fwl18-64-a, fwl18-64-b
One
reverse a label by Frank Letchford describes this piece
thus:- "a chalk sketch by Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956) done when he returned
to the City & guilds Art College Kennington Road which he had attended in
his youth, now at 69 he must have presented a somewhat weird spectacle to the
youths and girls hoping to embark upon an artistic career and set them wondering
as to what lay in store for them! The model is an Irish prize fighter too lazy
to train and gradually going to seed" Paper 22ins x 15ins folded and cut into
two. Drawing pin holes in corners
fwl18-63
Nude in Red Chalk
Accompanied by a curious, amorphous figure
Paper mounted on cardboard 21ins x 15ins Initialed by Spare
fwl12-51
"In Appreciation
of Michaelangelo"
Coloured pencil on paper. A rendition of "Day" from the
Medici tomb (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7). Handwritten text on reverse in Spare's hand
has been partially erased.
fwl24-2-38
Female
Standing
Coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-28
"Victrix…"
Pencil &
coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-26
Reclining
Female
Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7).
fwl24-2-31
"Venus
Reclines"
Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7). Handwritten
text on reverse in Spare's hand has been partially erased. £150
fwl24-2-39
Portraits
"Ex-docker"
Initialled and dated (1952)
by Spare Pastel on paper 14ins x 10ins , framed and glazed. Exhibited at the
Morley Gallery 1987
fwl9-37
"Old
Timer"
Initialled and dated (1952) by Spare Pastel on paper 12ins x 10ins
, framed and glazed. Exhibited at the Morley Gallery 1987
fwl9-35
untitled
Initialled by Spare
Pastel on paper 12ins x 10ins , framed and glazed. Label by Frank Letchford
states "A charcoal, chalks & pastel portrait by cockney artist Austin Osman
Spare (1886-1956) which demonstrates his love for humanity and warmth of heart
for an elderly working woman whose life he understood - early marriage, hard
graft over the wash tub and washing steps, worry over her husbands unemployment,
illness of the kids etc. All of which shows plainly on her fleshy face - not to
mention love for a pint of stout, porter or Guiness a day - all in moderation. A
Southwark type - as Spare might say - as he himself was and always will be,
despite the fierce attempts to brand him as "Satanist", a calumny which should
forever be scotched as he was more of an astrologer or magician than warlock.
This magnificent full Roman head, fleshy and characterful is a typical portrait
of the artist's 1930's (and again in the 1950's) periods when he was running his
"School of Draughtsmanship" and teaching students of all ages and ranks -
stopped by World War Two.
fwl9-38
A
Head
Pencil drawing on paper (7ins x 6ins) not dated but inserted into a
1954 sketchbook. Has aged tape across top of picture and signs of removal of a
label(?) along left edge.
fwl25-3-a
Female
Head
Pencil drawing with coloured pencil embellishments 10ins x 7ins.
Spare writes "Long poem here" indicating where text should go with read lines.
The face is reproduced in black and white negative in Zos Speaks. Tape along top
edge.
fwl27-3-22
Female
Head
Pen drawing with coloured pencil embellishments 10ins x 7ins. Beside
it a16 line poem written out by Spare starting "In the moon are dreams of
labour". The womans earing a sigil from the alphabet of desire. On reverse two
heads . Tape along top edge.
fwl28-3-23
Male & Female
Heads
Pencil on paper (11ins x 8.5ins) paper somewhat foxed &
browned.
fwl28-3-24
"The Starlit
Mire"
pencil on both sides of paper (8ins x 5ins) This handsome horned
visage appears in Vera Wainwright's poems and masks, though this piece suggests
Spare considered a work where image and word were more intergrated. He used the
title of a series of aphorisms which he illustrated almost three decades earlier
(c.1946-7).
Order Reference fwl21-2-2a-a;
(Some faces on reverse) fwl21-2-2a-b
"Polyandry"
Coloured pencil on paper (8ins x 5ins c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-2
"Nothing is
Contemptible…."
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins) Some text partially erased. (c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-4
"The Righteous Who
Babble…."
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins) Some text partially erased. (c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-4a
"Nature is Indifferent…."
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x
7ins c.1946-7). £150 (SOLD)
Order Reference fwl21-2-5
"At No Time…"
Pencil
& coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins
c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-6
"One's
Attachment…"
Misch Auer. Note another image of this gentleman appears in
Gavin Semple's Zos Kia. Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
Order Reference fwl21-2-10
"Nothing Should Hurt Us…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x
7ins c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-11
"Observation
is Blind…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism Frank Letchford identifies this as a portrait of Charles Laughton.
Spare completed a full size portrait of this actor. (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-12
"In Misery…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x
7ins c.1946-7).
fwl21-2-13
"Sacrifice…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with
handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-14
"We are Not Allowed…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x
7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-15
"Life
for Art's Sake…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-16
"The evil in us…"
Spencer Tracey Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-17
"Love lies
most…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism
(10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
Order Reference fwl22-2-18
"The Greatest
Disaster…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten
aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-19
"Loving
Thyself…"
Judy Garland Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with
handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl22-2-20
"We Cannot Love…"
Pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-21
"It Exhilerates my
Soul…" Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism
(10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-23
"My Proud
Silences…"
Image of the film star Lena Horne. Pencil & coloured
pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism (10ins x 7ins
c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-24
"Not the
Object…"
Pencil & coloured pencil on paper with handwritten aphorism
(10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-25
"The Coadjudicator…"
Robert Taylor & George Sanders
Coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-27
Male &
Female Stars
Coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins
c.1946-7).
fwl23-2-29
Male &
Female Stars
Coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
fwl24-2-30
The Scribe (Portrait
of Dennis Bardens)
Coloured pencil on paper (10ins x 7ins c.1946-7).
Perhaps a drawing for the bookplate design completed by Spare for Mr. Bardens.
Handwritten text on reverse in Spare's hand has been partially erased.
Order Reference fwl24-2-32
Male
head
Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7). Handwritten text
on reverse in Spare's hand has been partially erased.
fwl24-2-33
"Satyr's Kiss"
Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7). Handwritten text on
reverse in Spare's hand has been partially erased.
fwl24-2-34
"The
Shadow"
Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins c.1946-7). Handwritten
text on reverse in Spare's hand has been partially erased.
fwl24-2-35
"Convert &
Evangelist"
Paul Robeson Coloured pencil on paper (7ins x 10ins
c.1946-7). Handwritten text on reverse in Spare's hand has been partially
erased.
fwl24-2-36
Half
Face
Pencil on tracing paper 8ins x 4ins pasted on to card cover of a
sketchbook c.1947 Frank Letchford has noted that this was made for a mask done
on a sheet of plywood (so that the face was symmetrical). The wood was then
painted in watercolours and varnished, perhaps then made into a small table!
fwl18-1-1a
"Lead I me on"
Pencil & pastel on paper 13" x 8ins has the text "in search of a new
aethetic - effort to recover memory" Also some further text has been erased
Signed, initialled and dated 1942. A curiosity indeed one wonders if this may be
an art magic by Spare to aid his recovery from the injuries and stress caused by
wartime bombing.
fwl18-1-1
"Paganini"
Coloured pencil on paper 13ins x 8ins Initialled by Spare c.1942
fwl18-1-2
Male Head
Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins Initialled by Spare
c1944-5.
fwl18-1-5
Judy
Garland
Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins Initialed by Spare
c1944-5.
fwl18-1-6
"Conversation
Piece"
Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins Initialed by Spare
c1944-5.
fwl19-1-7
Female Bust
Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins Initialed by Spare c1944-5.
fwl19-1-9
Female Bust
Frank Letchford suggests it may be Greer Garson. Pencil & pastel on
paper 13ins x 8ins Initialed by Spare c1944-5. £165 (SOLD)
Order Reference
fwl19-1-10
"Dennis Bardens"
Author on supernatural themes (for instance Mysterious Worlds) and
broadcaster Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins c1944-5. £250 (SOLD)
Order Reference fwl19-1-11
"Madame
X"
Initialed by Spare. Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins c1944-5.
fwl19-1-13
Male
Head
Initialed by Spare. Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins
c1944-5.
fwl19-1-14
Male & female
head
Initialed by Spare. Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins
c1944-5.
fwl19-1-15
"Anticipation"
Initialed by Spare. The male figure is Clark Gable, who featured in a number
of Spare works from this period. Pencil & pastel on paper 13ins x 8ins
c1944-5.
fwl19-1-17
"Hannen Swaffer"
A patron and friend of Spare's throughout his life. One of the few of the
artistic establishment who stuck by Spare Initialed by Spare. Pencil &
pastel on paper 13" x 8ins c1944-5.
fwl20-1-20
"Hannen
Swaffer"
Initialed by Spare who here notes that it is "a Gothic head in
its straight alignment & symatry Pastel on both sides of paper 8ins x 8ins
not dated.
fwl15-58-2 / fwl15-58-3
Portrait Studies
Pencil
on both sides of paper 13ins x 8ins folded.
fwl14-56-a / fwl14-56-b
Caricature
Studies
Unusual for Spare Pastel & pencil on both sides of paper 8ins
x 6ins.
fwl14-55-a / fwl14-55-b
"Ideographs & Study for a
Portrait"
Pencil on paper 8ins x 13ins.
fwl13-53-a / fwl13-53-b
"Doubts & Fears; Girl who
Lost her Moral Standard"
Pencil and pastel on paper 8ins x
13ins
fwl15-57-a / fwl15-57-b
"Mervyn Jones"
The film
actor with a mask in background Watercolours & pencil on paper 11ins x 8ins
1946.
fwl5-20
"Issy Bon"
The
Jewish comedian. It has been suggested that he featured on the cover of the
Beatles Sergeant Pepper album. Watercolours & pencil on paper 13ins x 9ins
1946.
fwl5-21
Man, Myth &
Magic
1971 Poster 59ins x 40ins Handwritten note by Frank Letchford on
back notes that it utilizes the Spare picture titled "The Demon" which was also
used on the front cover of issue 1 of the magazine "which appeared on all the
newsagent stands & on TV in a very big publicity coverage. A small tear has
been unobtrusively mended, there are some slight creases and the edges are a
little dog eared.
fwl-poster