λ RUSKIN SPEAR (BRITISH 1911-1990)STUDY OF THE ARTIST'S WIFE, SLEEPING; COUNTRY LANDSCAPE, VERSOOil on board, with landscape study (verso)41 x 51cm (16 x 20 in.)Provenance:Mary Spear, the artist's wifeChris Burt, Private Collection (acquired from the above in 1992) Thence by descent to the present owner In a letter dated 13th June 1992, Mary Spear, the late Ruskin Spear's wife, confirms that it is indeed herself captured asleep in the present lot. She confirms that the work was painted by her late husband soon after they were married, somewhere in the early 40s. A scanned copy of the letter can be provided on request to the buyer. This intimate and delicate subject matter was one that Spear returned to, capturing his wife Mary throughout their marriage in a series of works. Ruskin Spear was born in Hammersmith and studied at the Hammersmith School of Art. He continued his studies under the tutelage of Sir William Rothenstein at the Royal College of Art. Spear exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1932 and became a fully elected member in 1954. From 1949 to 1950 Spear served as President to the London Group.λ Indicates that this lot may be subject to Droit de Suite royalty charges. From 1st January 2012 all UK art market professionals are required to collect a royalty payment for all works of art that have been produced by qualifying artists each time a work is re-sold during the artist’s lifetime and for a period up to 70 years following the artists death. This payment is only calculated on qualifying works of art which are sold for a hammer price more than the UK sterling equivalent of EURO 1,000. Please see our Terms and Conditions for a full definition of these charges. For a complete list of the royalty charges and threshold levels, please see www.dacs.org.uk.