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Austin Osman Spare - Identification of a painting

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(@michaelclarke18)
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Joined: 17 years ago
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I have a book, published in the 1970s, which features a photograph of AOS. In the background, there is a painting I am trying to find out about. Photograph posted below:

I've always liked it, because it makes me think of the covers of 50's pulp horror books.

Does anyone have any details about this work, including title, what year it was produced and any musings by AOS.

Thank you,

M


   
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(@michael-staley)
The Funambulatory Way - it's All in the Egg
Joined: 19 years ago
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I've often wondered about this, only ever having seen the picture in a photograph of Spare. I've often thought that this was probably  'Priestess and Her God', item 115 in Spare's 1947 catalogue.


   
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(@michaelclarke18)
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Joined: 17 years ago
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Thanks for the info. This picture is far more illustrative than most of the other works I have seen.

Aside from the studio portrait of Spare - of which the above is a detail - I've NEVER seen this picture reproduced anywhere.


   
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(@horemakhet)
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It's a composite blend of two photos isn't it?- Marlene Dietrich, & Akhenaten? AOS didn't usually use photo-reference did he? Curious.


   
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(@michael-staley)
The Funambulatory Way - it's All in the Egg
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 4351
 

Spare often worked from publicity photographs, film posters, etc., particularly to draw or paint film stars. I have a 1946 pastel of Katherine Hepburn for which I was able to find the photograph which inspired it.


   
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(@michaelclarke18)
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Joined: 17 years ago
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Spare often worked from publicity photographs, film posters,

I do recall seeing a Spare picture based upon Charles Laughton as Quasimodo.


   
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