the value of spencer's paintings soared after a retrospective exhibition at the royal academy in 1980. "the resurrection; waking up" fetched £770,000 at christie's early in 1990, and in may of that year his "crucifixion" (1958) fetched £1,320,000. "it was an all-time record for a modern british painting, and would have astounded stanley, who was poor for so long." on june 6, 2011 "sunflower and dog worship" sold for £5.4m, beating a record of £4.7m set a few minutes earlier for "workmen in the house".