Robert William Spranger
Robert William Spranger (c1848-1934)
1934 Obituary [1]
Commendatore ROBERT WILLIAM STRANGER died in Florence on November 24, 1933.
He was in his eighty-seventh year, and was one of the oldest and most prominent members of the English colony in Florence. He originally went to Italy when quite young to study painting, and for the rest of his life he made Florence his home, where he interested himself actively not only in art but also in business and agriculture.
He founded the Magona d'Italia tinplate works at Piombino over forty years ago, and was for many years the managing director of the company. In all he undertook he showed remarkable gifts of organisation and administration, which made him an invaluable collaborator in any enterprise. He was always deeply interested in modern Italian paintings, and possessed a fine collection of works by the best contemporary artists.
Members of the Institute who were present at the Autumn Meeting held in Italy in 1923 and who took part in the visit to Florence will remember that Mr. Spranger was among those at the railway station waiting to welcome them and to assist in every way possible to make their sojourn in Florence a most delightful experience. Also, the works of the Magona Company were among those visited during the days of that Autumn Meeting.
Mr. Spranger was elected a member of the Iron and Steel Institute in 1904.