You may think that you are not familiar with the artist Jack Vettriano but the truth is that you probably are. His work has proved incredibly popular, particularly in the UK, and his painting entitled The Singing Butler at one time topped the list of the highest selling prints in this country. You will know the picture even if you didn’t know who painted it. It would be fair to say that it is everywhere!
A Poor Start
Vettriano’s career is an interesting one if only because he has divided opinion and I don’t mean that of the art critics. The critics and art establishment in general are almost universally negative about his work but the pubic love it which begs a significant question. Is popularity a good test of the validity of artistic work?
Vettriano grew up in Scotland as Jack Hoggan. He grew up in relative poverty and left school at 16 to become an apprentice mining engineer. He also worked for some time as a bingo caller! Painting became a hobby in the 1970’s after he received a painting set for his 21st Birthday. His early works were copies and pastiches but he kept studying art and developing his own style.
Breakthrough
After his marriage broke up he adopted his mother’s maiden name, Vettriano, and applied to study Fine Art at the University of Edinburgh but his portfolio was rejected. Two years later in 1989 he submitted two works for the Royal Scottish Academy annual show. Both pictures sold on the first day and he was approached by several galleries who were interested in exhibiting his paintings. He was eventually to exhibit worldwide with his paintings always selling quickly. He received a commission from Sir Terance Conran to paint a series of works for a London restaurant.
By the end of the 1990’s Vettriano’s paintings were fetching large sums. Indeed the original of the Singing Butler sold for £744,500 which was perhaps not a surprise for the most popular picture in the country. That picture had been rejected by the Royal Academy summer exhibition in 1992. So did the art establishment misjudge Vettriano or do the public have no taste?
The Critics
The critics have been scathing of Vettrianos work variously describing it as “dim erotica”, “Badly conceived soft porn” and “brainless”. One critic went as far as saying that “he can’t paint he just colours in”. Not great then! However, the general public love his work and he has made a small fortune selling his originals and collecting the royalties from his prints. Perhaps art is like music. ABBA may not have been Mozart but they were fabulous at what they did. Vettriano is no Michelangelo but then most people don’t want Renaissance art on their living room walls. Its horses for courses and Vettriano appeals to the masses.
There is surely some validity in popular appeal. Painting pleasing images is a talent. If we could all do it then we would create our own art for our homes. I think that the critics should climb down from their high horse and appreciate the fact that the world is big enough to accommodate Da Vinci and Vettriano!
Article by Sally Stacey