Romarin Grazebook's 'Blind Man & the Beggar" Series

This group of painted panels (series of 16) offers a fascinating and lesser-known facet of Romarin Grazebook’s body of work. Still wrapped in a 1976 issue of The Church Times when discovered, the pieces appear to form part of a thematic series, possibly titled The Blind Man and the Beggar, as shared by the previous owner.
 
While no formal records of this title are confirmed, the works carry a strong narrative thread — filled with mirrored poses, recurring costumes, and symbolic motifs like stars, stripes, and masks.
 
Grazebook was a British artist active throughout the late 20th century, whose work traversed the lines between folk art, personal mythology, and outsider expression. Known primarily for her reverse glass portraits and astrological themes, she also ventured into more allegorical or theatrical territory — as seen in these vivid, story-driven tableaux.
 
Each panel is painted directly onto the back of mirrored glass and bordered with decorative frames, giving them the feel of handmade shrines or carnival banners. The figures — sometimes doubled, masked, or floating — appear as part of an unfolding, dreamlike story that blurs the line between fable and devotional art.
 
Rare, distinctive, and remarkably well-preserved, these works offer a glimpse into a more narrative-driven period of Grazebook’s practice — and stand as some of the most enigmatic examples of her art to surface in recent years.
 
Condition: Excellent - careful, sharp edges
Size: W 13.25cm x L 17.5cm