The Batcave Revealed (pre-lim) by Dick Sprang

Richard W. "Dick" Sprang is my favorite Batman artist. I rank my top five as:

1. Dick Sprang
   
2. Marshal Rogers
   
3. Neal Adams
   
4. Jim Aparo
   
5. So many others ...

I've wanted a piece by him for years and years, but the price for finished artwork has stayed ahead of my buying power. I've seen pre-lims and sketches that I liked, but nothing that caused me to spend money until I saw this one.

When Ike Wilson listed this for sale in the Facebook group Comic original art sale, trade, show, he provided this description:

This is a preliminary pencil drawing for a Batcave painting by definitive Golden Age Batman Artist, Dick Sprang. It was produced two years before “Secrets of the Batcave”. The painting, “The Batcave Revealed” sold in the Heritage auction for $36,000 in January of 2021. There have only been four Batcave specialty pieces illustrated by Dick Sprang...two of them in color.

Image size: 7.5”x11” on yellow paper. Price: $275 plus $15 for domestic shipping. Comes with certificate of authenticity.


When the final painting was sold on Heritage recently (2021-01-14 for $36K even), Heritage provided this description:

Dick Sprang The Batcave Revealed Batman and Robin Original Art (1993). "The Batcave Revealed" was produced a full two years before a very similar painting by the noted Batman artist would be used to produce the limited edition prints "Secrets of the Batcave". Heritage auctioned that original art in 2016 for over $50,000.00. There were only four Batcave original art pieces of this type drawn by Mr. Sprang, and only two in color (this one and the afore mention "Secrets of the Batcave"). The piece appears in the book, The Art of Richard W. Sprang, published in 1998 by Striking Impressions. This ink and watercolor masterpiece is incredibly detailed and a wondrous delight for the eyes of Bat-Fans everywhere! The massive image area measures 27.75" x 18" in the UV glass front 37" x 27" frame. In Excellent condition.

I've placed images for all four "Batcave" commissions in the Additional Images section. You can learn more about these in the chapter The Great Commission in Bob Koppany's book, The Art of Richard W. Sprang. You can see excerpts of the book from when I had my copy rebound here.