£30.00
700 numbered copies
260 pages, 156 x 234 mm. Litho printed, Sewn, illustrated endpapers, illustrated dustjacket two colourplate sections, and over 50 black and white images in the text
2 in stock
Description
In this multi-faceted book, Dr Wallace analyses Spare’s debt to Theatre, Shakespeare, the Classics, Lewis Carroll and Nietzsche. At the centre of this literary and philosophical orbit we find the artist’s wife.
From The Arcadians chorus line to Spare’s life-model, Eily Shaw is brought out of the shadows for the first time and her influence upon Spare’s art and life is measured. There is no doubt that for a very short time she became his muse; during which he produced The Book of Pleasure.
We reproduce for the first time a drawing intended for
The Book of Pleasure. A key section investigates the irrational and laughter implicit to Spare’s magnum opus.
There is also assessment of Spare’s Tarot deck, revealing his early awareness of Alchemical symbolism.
And the influence of Hogarth’s satires upon Earth:Inferno and A Book of Satyrs.
