RIP Jack Vettriano

[craigwend]

Scottish painter of people on beaches, among other things.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y02wxgrzlo

Oh the irony...

His best-known work, The Singing Butler, depicts an elegant couple dancing on a storm-swept beach accompanied by their butler and maid.

It sold at auction in 2004 for £744,800 - a Scottish record at the time - and reproductions of the painting were the best-selling art print in the UK.

It was reimagined by Banksy for Crude Oil (Vettriano) - a painting now owned by Blink-182 star Mark Hoppus and expected to fetch between £3m and £5m at auction in London on Tuesday.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Oh the irony...

His best-known work, The Singing Butler, depicts an elegant couple dancing on a storm-swept beach accompanied by their butler and maid.

It sold at auction in 2004 for £744,800 - a Scottish record at the time - and reproductions of the painting were the best-selling art print in the UK.

It was reimagined by Banksy for Crude Oil (Vettriano) - a painting now owned by Blink-182 star Mark Hoppus and expected to fetch between £3m and £5m at auction in London on Tuesday.

Irony?

 

[AndyRM]

Irony?

"Crude Oil", innit?

 

[Beebo]

Irony?

I think it can be used in a Wryly Amusing context.

The other wryly amusing thing about that picture is that the male and female dancers are the wrong way round. The man should always be on the left.

 

[Ian H]

And his name will be remembered far longer than the critics such as e.g. the Guardian's Johnathan Jones

I'll bet he laughed all the way to his grave.

Doubtless the money was some compensation, but no, he didn't like the criticisms.

 

[DaveReading]

For reasons that I never quite understood, a village near us (Bray) used to have, several times a year, a joint exhibition/sale of paintings by both Vettriano and a certain Rolf Harris.

I suppose the logic was that both were equally hated, artistically speaking, by the establishment - though of course RH is now despised for rather more serious reasons.

My impression was that JV, far from being sensitive to the critics' comments, didn't give a toss about them.

 

[Dogtrousers]

The fact that this or that artist sold for umpty squillion quid just says that the art market is unfathomably bonkers, and doesn't say much about the artists themselves.

 

[Marchrider]

In a book I read, probably a Scotland Street novel by McCall Smith. A potential customer had entered one of the highbrow art dealer shops in Dundas Street, Edinburgh and on looking around they had asked if they had any Jack Vettriano's - the snooty assistant in very dismissive tones suggested they visit an art supply shop, buy some paints and paint their own, adding there is no special talent needed

​

 

[Ian H]

In a book I read, probably a Scotland Street novel by McCall Smith. A potential customer had entered one of the highbrow art dealer shops in Dundas Street, Edinburgh and on looking around they had asked if they had any Jack Vettriano's - the snooty assistant in very dismissive tones suggested they visit an art supply shop, buy some paints and paint their own, adding there is no special talent needed

​

Art dealers are the spawn of the devil (generally speaking).

 

[Dogtrousers]

Art dealers are the spawn of the devil (generally speaking).

Especially made-up ones in books.

 

[Marchrider]

Especially made-up ones in books.

Indeed, and to be honest I have often been in the Dundas street art galleries (yet to purchase anything) and mostly they are very nice and welcoming - but there was one once, and that bit in the book did make me laugh - I wondered if it had been the same woman

 

[Rusty Nails]

Doubtless the money was some compensation, but no, he didn't like the criticisms.

Just like other artists then.

I suspect the dislike was more for professional critics who are not generally known for their artistic achievements

 

[Rusty Nails]

Quite a balanced review in the Guardian.
https://apple.news/AqWCwsvkZTyyN5n30kFkAXQ

A reasonable assessment of his work. Noticeable that it wasn't by the newspaper's art critic Johnathan Jones.

There is also another article in The Spectator today (behind a paywall unfortunately) entitled "In defence of Jack Vettriano...
And the snobbery of the critic class"