Austin Osman Spare (1886-1956)

First exhibited in 1907, this study of the famous Italian Dominican priest Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) gained much admiration from critics. Based on the portrait by the Florentine painter Fra Bartolomeo (1472-1517), Spare’s study shows a great deal of empathy towards the subject, who was excommunicated and executed for his outspoken views on moral corruption within the church, book-burning and ‘immortal art’.

We are very grateful to Robert Ansell for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry, and those for lots 33, 39, 56, 63 and 66.