Recto: studies including for eyes for the Self Portrait of 1913 and possibly for the Visitation

Verso: studies for Zacarias and Elizabeth (see below)

Pen and ink, red chalk and pencil, 35.5 by 25.5 cm

This double-sided sketch leaf is typical of the spontaneous and even haphazard approach Spencer took when working many of his ideas out on paper. The sheet includes a number of identifiable working studies for important compositions from this date, most notably (verso) for Zacarias and Elizabeth and for his Self Portrait of 1913 in sepia ink (the eyes alone piercingly drawn on the right hand side of the recto). Both these works are in the Tate collection.