Austin Osman Spare


Two Items of Original Artwork

Faunesque
It is pencil and watercolour and is 14.5ins x 8.5ins Dated 1947 and has an exhibition number, Number 20, which was given to it when it was shown at the 1949 Temple Bar exhibition, the catalogue of which carried an anonymous appreciation by Kenneth Grant.. Classic Spare having a satyrised sidereal portrait with haunting masks manifesting from energy swirls in the background. It was reframed some years ago but the original back board has been retained carrying date, Spare's signature, the title plus the exhibition number. “Sidereal”, the term used by Spare for such elongated portraits that have to be viewed at an extreme angle for the features to fall into place, no doubt had layers of meaning for him. Originally meaning “of the stars” in the Early Modern period it was used mean astral as in astral spirits. It would have also been a play of surreal as in beSIDE REALity Order Ref. FAUNESQUE £2750

Untitled, Pencil and watercolour wash
15ins x 9.5ins, modern glazed frame. Signed by Spare and dated 1931. (Some reflection from the glass in this image) The provenance of this item is that it belonged to John Balance who sold it to the artist/musician Carl Abrahamsson (see www.carlabrahamsson.com ) as well as being editor of the very good Fenris Wolf published by Psychic Release in the early 1990s (not to be confused with other publications of that title). It was acquired by the present owner from Abrahamsson. Order Ref. SPARE £1250