A Scottish artist whose evocative works have captured the imaginations of art lovers worldwide, Jack Vettriano has died at the age of 73, his publicist has said. He was found dead at his apartment in Nice, in the south of France.
Vettriano, who was born Jack Hoggan on 17 November 1951 in Methil, Fife, was found on Saturday, his publicist said. It is understood there are no suspicious circumstances around his death.
Among his most famous works is The Singing Butler (1992), a romantic scene of a couple dancing on a beach with a butler and maid in attendance. The image has become synonymous with Vettriano’s style and is one of his most widely reproduced pieces, embodying themes of love, elegance, and nostalgia. On 21 April 2004 the original canvas of The Singing Butler sold at auction for £744,500. It had been rejected in 1992 by the Royal Academy summer exhibition. The composition for the painting, as discovered by Scottish designer Sandy Robb, had been sourced from the Illustrator’s Figure Reference Manual.
Vettriano’s easel paintings sold for between £48,000 and £195,000 new. According to The Guardian he earned £500,000 a year in print royalties.
Passion
Another well-known piece is Dance Me to the End of Love (1997), which shows a couple dancing intimately, bathed in a soft golden light. Inspired by Leonard Cohen’s song of the same name, this painting is often interpreted as a celebration of love and passion.
The Red Dress (1996) is another striking image, portraying a woman in a bold red gown standing confidently, her back to the viewer, while a man gazes at her from the shadows. The piece exudes mystery, romance, and sensuality, highlighting Vettriano’s ability to capture fleeting moments and emotional tension.
These works, along with others like The Last Supper and A Dangerous Liaison, showcase Vettriano’s talent for blending glamour, narrative, and emotion into unforgettable visual stories.
Vettriano’s works are often characterised by their vivid colours, sharp contrasts, and nostalgic atmospheres. His paintings are imbued with a sense of romanticism, often drawing inspiration from the golden age of cinema, fashion, and music. Figures in his works are typically set in dramatic, glamorous, or intimate moments, capturing a fleeting narrative that invites the viewer to imagine what might happen next. His paintings, such as The Singing Butler and Dance Me to the End of Love, have become iconic representations of both longing and desire, creating a dialogue between the subjects and the observer.
Imagination
A key aspect of Vettriano’s appeal lies in the cinematic quality of his art. His paintings often resemble stills from a film, with a narrative edge that leaves much to the imagination. This sense of mystery is accentuated by the choice of colour and lighting, which often casts shadows that create a sense of depth and intrigue. The figures in his works are frequently positioned in a way that encourages speculation about their relationships, emotions, and intentions.
Despite his popularity, Vettriano’s work has not been universally embraced by the art world. Critics have often dismissed him as a commercial artist or branded his paintings as overly sentimental and lacking intellectual depth. Some argue that his works are too stylized or derivative of other artistic movements, while others question the emotive quality of his pieces. However, for many fans, it is precisely this emotive, accessible nature that makes his art so appealing. His works, often sold as prints, hang in homes, offices, and galleries around the world, enjoyed by those who appreciate the romantic escapism and dramatic elegance his paintings convey.
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