Jack Vettriano

by Jack Vettriano, Anthony Quinn

Over the last few years Jack Vettriano has risen to fame meteorically. Emerging from the unlikely background of the Scottish coalfields, unknown and untutored, he has become Scotland's most successful and controversial contemporary artist. Appearing on posters and cards, mugs and umbrellas, prints of his work outsell van Gogh, Dali and Monet and his paintings have been acquired by celebrities around the world.
Vettriano himself describes his paintings as akin to pulp fiction novel covers and railway posters of the 1950s. His images have an often mysterious narrative and are a gateway to an alluring yet sinister world. Daylight scenes of heady optimism, painted against backdrops of beaches and racetracks, are counterbalanced by more disquieting canvases of complex night-time liaisons in bars, clubs, bedrooms and ballrooms.
Jack Vettriano publishes for the first time over thirty new images, exhibited in his 2004 exhibition, as well as some recently discovered works, plus the best of the paintings previously published in Lovers and Other Strangers and Fallen Angels, also published by Pavilion.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

191 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Jack Vettriano was a Scottish painter. His 1992 painting The Singing Butler became a best-selling image in Britain.

Reviews

[Cecily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own a small print of "the Singing Butler". I did not know that most of the artist's other work contained quite hardcore sexual undertones (they are not subtle). Not for the prim and prude.

[Nic (nicsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Jack Vettriano’s paintings is mesmerising. With words by Anthony Quinn, we delve into the world of Vettriano and his thought processes behind his artwork.

I have to say, I’ve been an admirer of Vettriano’s work in recent years and I think this book confirms that for me. His paintings have an air of dark passion behind them, hidden meanings behind every lit cigarette and the longing for more weaved into the facial details of his subjects. A common theme in his work is hiding in shadows, and his use of light is astounding yet intimate.

Lovingly turning the pages of this book with slow jazz playing in the background really intensified the feelings these paintings give you. I also completely agree with Sir Tim Rice, who commented on these paintings by saying, “He [Vettriano] has the ability to make you feel nostalgic for things you never actually experienced in the first place.” The secret glances across the bar, the elegant blood red dresses, the lustful eyes of male onlookers; they all add up to this deep, secret, sexual and emotional world the characters in the paintings are living in. They’re unhappy and want someone to come along and change them. They’re silently crying out for someone to sweep them off their feet, take them for a drink and talk into the small hours of the morning.

Beautiful, nostalgic, glamorous. The golden age of painting.

[Raff Eebs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found most of the paintings in the book super intriguing and wonder if parallels between certain paintings are purposeful or not (like Heartbreak Hotel and The Letter) - either way, I’ve absolutely no doubts that he is a fantastic artist and Quinn’s writing between the eras is just as fantastic. Some of the paintings didn’t particularly appeal to me but everyone has a personal preference and mine just isn’t for women in lingerie. That being said my favourites were Heartbreak Hotel, Dancer For Money, The Singing Butler (I & II), Mad Dogs, A Test Of True Love, Narcissistic Bathers, and Tango Dancers.

[Arsnoctis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho apprezzato il fatto che sia un'introduzione al pittore che non pretende di essere una biografia, ma lascia spazio ai suoi quadri. L'edizione di Ippocampo è un cartonato che vale il prezzo richiesto e può essere un bel regalo per chi ami Vettriano. L'ho preso in prestito dalla libreria di un fan, ho incontrato volentieri molti dipinti che non avevo mai visto e sono sollevata di averlo riportato al suo posto. JV non è tra i pennellatori che preferisco, ma il volume scritto da Quinn - Rawstorne è valido. Nb: La mia valutazione non è sulle opere, ma sul libro in sè.

[Elizabeth Grieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love his work, and this contains many of his paintings, some with an adult theme.

[Rhianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Vettriano's art and this collection has a wonderful mix of his elegant, dreamy works to the sensual noir pieces.

[Noel Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack Vettriano has a style that is very clear and striking. His work picks up the emotion of impressionism and the simplicity of Edward Hopper. He has a very compelling style, but many of his pieces focus on adult themes and focus on sensual images. I cut out a third of the pages as soon as I bought the book, but I love his work.

[Elizabeth]

Tim got me this for our 2nd anniversary!!

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of Vettriano's work that contains biographical text along with his very cinematographic style of paintings.

[Cindy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful paintings. Intriguing profile on a self-taught artist. Inspiring - it made me assess my own history and what led me to drawing.

[OxoNewbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collections with informative notes.

5 stars.