1st Oct, 2024 10:00

Modern and Contemporary Art | To include the David and Pam McCleave Collection

 
  Lot 42
 

42

Ruskin Spear RA (1911-1990)

'Sherry Bar Portrait'
signed 'Ruskin Spear' l.r., oil on canvas with collage
98.5 x 68cm

Provenance: Sotheby's, New Bond Street, 'Modern British Pictures' 4 March 1998, lot 162;

The David and Pam McCleave Collection of Modern British Art.

Exhibited: Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, 1964, catalogue no. 209.

Literature: Mervyn Levy, 'Ruskin Spear', Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1985, no.53, p.62.

'The Sherry Bar' was painted in the Ravenscourt Arms, Hammersmith, London. The painting is notable not only for its artistic qualities, but also for its connection of two prominent cultural figures: the artist, Ruskin Spear, and the celebrated Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. The pair often met here and, according to Spear, the Ravenscourt Arms was a place where Dylan Thomas engaged in his early morning 'light drinking' during the late 1940s.

Take advantage of our Sworders Delivery Service. Please see 'Shipping estimate' below.

Ruskin Spear

A selection of works by Ruskin Spear featuring in our 1-2 October Modern & Contemporary Art auction.

Sold for £28,000


Condition Report

Framed: 126 x 96cm
Presents well overall. There are some small cracks in places, including to the lady's bust, forehead and the picture of the Beatles.A small scratch to the forehead. A little rubbing to the extreme top edge. The canvas is a little loose to the touch but in our opinion this does not affect enjoyment of the work when viewed on the wall. Examined under UV light there is some fine infilling the chest. There is possible further overpainting to the lower cheek which fluoreses under UV light, but is difficult to detect to the naked eye. Please see additional condition images.

 

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Auction: Modern and Contemporary Art | To include the David and Pam McCleave Collection, 1st Oct, 2024

 

The David and Pam McCleave Collection

 

Viewing

London Viewing | Highlights

A selection of lots will be on view Tuesday 3 - Thursday 19 September at our London Gallery, 15 Cecil Court, London WC2N 4EZ, as follows:

Monday-Friday, 11.30am - 5.30pm 

For more information, please contact 0203 971 2500 | london@sworder.co.uk 

 

Stansted Viewing | Auction

Viewing will be held at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE, as follows:

Thursday 26 September, 10am - 4pm 

Friday 27 September, 10am - 4pm 

Sunday 29 September, 10am - 1pm 

Monday 30 September, 10am - 4pm 

All lots are, however, extensively illustrated and carry detailed condition reports - see 'Condition report' at the foot of each lot description. 



The auction will take place at our Stansted Auction Rooms, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet CM24 8GE.

View all lots in this sale

Please note that this item is not suitable for a pre-sale automated shipping estimate due to the items weight/size. 

The below table shows indicative shipping costs for larger items being delivered within the UK mainland. Please note that all the below costs are purely for indicative purposes and are to be used as a guideline only. If you purchase multiple large items, we will combine deliveries to reduce the shipping costs. 

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