Ruskin Spear (1911–1990) was born in Hammersmith in London, the son of a coach builder and painter, studied and then later in life taught at Hammersmith School of Art, and died in Hammersmith. Childhood polio left him with a limp and often reliant on a wheelchair. Styling himself as 'the working-class co*ckney', he painted the streets and life of Hammersmith, especially the local pubs, tea-rooms and theatres. His friend Robert Buhler said of him 'Ruskin Spear has done for Hammersmith what Sickert did for Camden Town'. Included are a number of his London scenes from the Second World War. Developed in association with Grant Waters, Art Detective Group Leader: South East England, East England and the Midlands.
Artists featured in this Curation:Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
29 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
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Hammersmith Broadway
Hammersmith Broadway 1950
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 45 x W 34 cm
Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Arts Council Collection, Southbank Centre, London
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Approach to Hammersmith Bridge
Approach to Hammersmith Bridge mid-20th C
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 62 x W 77.5 cm
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales
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Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith Bridge
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 80 x W 65 cm
Government Art Collection
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Government Art Collection
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The Old Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 1943
The Old Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, 1943 1979
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 80.2 x W 99.4 cm
Royal Academy of Arts
© Royal Academy of Arts. Image credit: Royal Academy of Arts
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Hammersmith under Snow
Hammersmith under Snow 1951
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 74.5 x W 44.5 cm
The Box, Plymouth
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: The Box, Plymouth
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Winter Evening
Winter Evening c.1955
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 76.5 x W 61 cm
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: City & County of Swansea: Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Collection
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Winter
Winter 1940
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 77 x W 58.5 cm
Southampton City Art Gallery
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Snow Scene
Snow Scene 1946
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 45.1 x W 62.9 cm
Tate
© Tate. Image credit: Tate
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Spring in Hammersmith
Spring in Hammersmith
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 52.5 x W 38.5 cm
Towner
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Spring in Hammersmith
Spring in Hammersmith c.1943
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 40 x W 52 cm
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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December Afternoon
December Afternoon 1940–1949
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 99.7 x W 45.7 cm
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
© Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Image credit: Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery
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River in Winter
River in Winter 1951
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 196.5 x W 96 cm
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: City & County of Swansea: Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Collection
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Spring Morning
Spring Morning 1947
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 51.5 x W 61.5 cm
Government Art Collection
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Government Art Collection
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Alf and the Canary
Alf and the Canary 1963
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 132 x W 61 cm
Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library
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Mr Hollingberry's Canary
Mr Hollingberry's Canary c.1950
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 163 x W 83.5 cm
Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
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Hollingberry's Canary
Hollingberry's Canary
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 74.6 x W 49 cm
The Box, Plymouth
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: The Box, Plymouth
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Mr Hollingbery's Canary
Mr Hollingbery's Canary 1950
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 182.9 x W 107.1 cm
Tate
© Tate. Image credit: Tate
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Man in a Pub
Man in a Pub 1960s
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas laid on board
H 13.4 x W 15 cm
Royal Academy of Arts
© Royal Academy of Arts. Image credit: Royal Academy of Arts
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Public Bar
Public Bar c.1955
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 92 x W 92 cm
Jerwood Collection
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Jerwood Collection
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The Saloon Bar
The Saloon Bar
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 79 x W 52.5 cm
Reading Museum
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Reading Museum
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The Tea Shop
The Tea Shop 1946 or before
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 42.3 x W 49.5 cm
Leicester Museums and Galleries
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Leicester Museums and Galleries
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Hopscotch
Hopscotch
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
H 37 x W 29 cm
The Reiff Collection
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: The Reiff Collection
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Children in the Snow
Children in the Snow
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on board
H 48 x W 72 cm
Somerset County Council
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Somerset County Council
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Snooker
Snooker 1950s
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on canvas
H 40 x W 53 cm
Heritage Doncaster
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Heritage Doncaster
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The Blackout
The Blackout 1942
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 50.8 x W 60.9 cm
IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Image credit: IWM (Imperial War Museums)
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A London Street
A London Street 1944–1945
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 45.8 x W 55.9 cm
Birmingham Museums Trust
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Birmingham Museums Trust
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Deaf Girls Working on the Construction of Petrol Tanks
Deaf Girls Working on the Construction of Petrol Tanks 1943
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 29.2 x W 59.3 cm
IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Scene in an Underground Train: Workers Returning from Night Shift
Scene in an Underground Train: Workers Returning from Night Shift 1943
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 58.4 x W 71.1 cm
IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Patients Waiting outside a First Aid Post in a Factory
Patients Waiting outside a First Aid Post in a Factory 1942
Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
Oil on panel
H 68 x W 78.5 cm
IWM (Imperial War Museums)
Image credit: Bridgeman Images
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Ruskin Spear (1911–1990)
