Charles Spencer, the longtime art critic for the JC, has died, aged 89.

Born in London’s East End to Russian and Polish parents, he specialised in Romanian art and edited the journal Art and Artists. Among his books was Memoirs of an Art Critic in Greece.

Mr Spencer also lectured on art at Spiro Ark, the organisation for Jewish cultural education. He spent the last years of his life at Nightingale House, the Jewish home in south London.

Harvey Kaye, Mr Spencer’s nephew, said: “He carried on lecturing and putting on art exhibitions until the end of his life.”