Four drawings by Stuart Sutcliffe, who died in April of 1962 at the age of 21, are being sold by Paul Fraser Collectibles. The drawings, which are unsigned, are on an 8 x 10 1/2 inch sheet taken from a sketchbook. The four images take up both sides of an off-white page. The sketches show a woman with some men and the woman appears to be naked. Paul Fraser Collectibles say the drawings are in "fine condition."
The drawings were at one time owned by the Sutcliffe estate and were previously sold in 2003 by Bonhams & Butterfield. In the previous sale, the drawings, which were described then as "one of sixteen testimonies submitted to study Painting, the blue sketch book with red spine and Royal College of Art sticker on the front, with many pages of drawings in pencil and ink and wash, of figures, buildings, profiles, portraits, nudes, ballet dancers and abstract group studies," sold for a base price of £3,525 (roughly $5,817 at today's exchange rates).
The four drawings for sale by Paul Fraser Collectibles are priced at £1,250 (roughly $2,063) and include a certificate of authenticity and information about their history. You can find more information and an image of the sketch here.
Sutcliffe and John Lennon were very close friends, which led to his joining the Beatles, but his first love was art. Author Bill Harry credits Sutcliffe with bringing a touch of style and mystery to the young group. Sutcliffe's featured moment in their shows was singing the lead on Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."
In years since his death, there have been several books and a few films about his life. Maybe the biggest tribute, though, was being featured on the cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." (That's him on the far left in the third row, almost directly behind boxer Sonny Liston.)
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Steve Marinucci is the author of the Beatles Examiner, Paul McCartney Examiner, Vintage Rock 'n' Roll Examiner and TV on DVD Examiner columns on Examiner.com.
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