Self Portrait

Details

AUSTIN OSMAN SPARE (1886-1956)
Self Portrait
signed with initials and dated 'AOS 1911' (lower right)
pencil and coloured chalk on buff paper
10 x 8 in. (25.4 x 20.2 cm.)
Executed in 1911.

Provenance

Ernest Thesiger, and by descent.
Acquired from the above by the present owner.

Special notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Alice Murray Head of Evening Sale

amurray@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2423

Lot Essay

By 1911, Austin Osman Spare had moved away from the grotesque pen and ink style that made his fame, towards a mature use of pencil and coloured chalk that found expression primarily through portraiture. This self portrait, executed the year of his marriage to the actress Eily Shaw (1888-1938), demonstrates his increasing confidence. Ernest Thesiger, CBE (1879 - 1961) was an English stage and film actor, celebrated for his performance as Doctor Septimus Pretorius in James Whale's film, Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

We are very grateful to Robert Ansell for preparing this catalogue entry.

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