British artist Stuart Sutcliffe - former bass player of The Beatles

Stuart Sutcliffe was born in the middle of June (June 23, 1940) in the town of Edinburgh, which is in Scotland. His life was short (he died at the age of 21), but productive and full. Despite the fact that he was not at a young age, Stewart managed to leave his mark in this world and left in the midst of creativity.

Childhood and adolescence

Stuart's family was small, but very cohesive. The father, who was a naval officer, often left home, and therefore, as a child, his son saw very rarely. But his life was brightened up by two sisters and mother - a teacher at a school named Milli.

In the Prescot school, Stuart Sutcliffe went to Liverpool, and when he finished his studies, he entered an art college that was in the same city. By the way, it was in this educational institution that he met John Lennon, and this meeting became crucial for him.

Even in his school years, Stuart began to learn the art of painting and it should be noted that this was given to him very well. It is worth noting that he came out of a good artist, but a new friend persuaded him to try himself in the musical field as a bass player. So he became part of the legendary band The Beatles, which was originally called Quarrymen.

The Beatles

To say that the guitarist came out of him is genius - that means, to say not quite the truth. Because the technique of the game was not first-rate, and the hobby for painting made it difficult to become a good musician. Stewart Sutcliffe tried to catch everything. The Beatles inspired him, but he could not live without a brush in his hands.

The band originally consisted of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Sutcliffe, and a little later, they were joined by a wonderful drummer and professional Beste, and already in full the Beatles changed their place of residence and moved to Hamburg, where they gave their creativity to people before End of 1960.

Love

Already being a part of the group, the British artist met a nice girl named Astrid Kirherr, who seriously took a great interest in photography and was simultaneously educated at Hamburg College. This meeting influenced Sutcliffe's decision to transfer from Liverpool College to a Hamburg school of the same profile.

He did not hesitate for a long time and already in the fall (November), at the age of 20, made an offer to his beloved, and in the same month their engagement took place. This remarkable event happened when Stuart Sutcliffe first visited Hamburg as a rock musician. In the second visit (in 1961), he is finally staying in this town, where he continues to do his favorite thing - painting.

In this same period, he also decides to leave the group and leaves the band. The Beatles band starts touring without it.

Painting

Student Helen Anderson, who studied together with Stuart, recalled the works of the young artist in the early period as aggressive, filled with dark, gloomy shades.

But not all works were permeated with Gothic style. There were among the paintings and unique early works, and a worthy place among them was occupied by the painting "Summer Painting", which was partially acquired by Mores. Interestingly, this work was not written on ordinary canvas. It was depicted on a school board, and to transport it to a new place, it was necessary to cut it into two equal parts. Also it is reliably known that only part of the work (half of the picture) got to the exhibition, and the second one was bought by Mores.

In the summer of 1961, after becoming a student at the prestigious Hamburg College, he found himself in the teacher of Paolizzy. The teacher wrote about his talented student flattering reviews and even called him one of the most promising and gifted. A famous and highly paid artist could become Stuart Sutcliffe. The pictures of this young man were dynamic and mysterious.

Later works, as a rule, did not have names, were built in the spirit of Stael. The paintings were made using linear objects, and therefore the impression was created that all objects depicted on them had a closed enclosed space.

He often portrayed people, in his collection there is even a portrait of his own mother. These pictures are more like sketches, but they look great. It is in these works that a real artist exposes the soul, these are imperfect lines, but they accurately convey the features of a loved one.

The first exhibition and auction

Many connoisseurs of creativity of young talents found the similarity of paintings made by Sutcliffe's pen with the works of European masters of the United States of America, who were considered Expressionists. But only one work was awarded at the exhibition in the autumn of 1959 in Liverpool in the framework of the display of Mores art.

Even after the end of the show, the picture was bought for a very modest price, which was the size of the labor payment of a simple worker for 2 months.

Death of a gifted artist and rock musician

The way of life that led the artist and musician, brought him to the hemorrhage in the brain, from which he died on April 10, 1962.

The exact diagnosis and causes of death could not be established, but, according to some versions, it was suggested that in a fight with hooligans head injuries were caused, which led to the demise. And it happened after the performance of The Beatles during the tour of England. Few testimonies speak of an attack on the Beatles by a drunken company of inveterate hooligans who remained unhappy with the concert. In this fight, and Paul McCartney suffered, but got off with light bruises, but Stewart was less fortunate, and from the brain injuries he died in the prime of life.

That's how tragically died Stuart Sutcliffe. The cause of death changed many times, but the fact was that the world would no longer see new pictures of this strange artist.

Successes

The musician managed to play only three works, which became legends of rock. They were included in the album Anthology 1. On the cover of this musical hit at the top, to the right flaunts a picture of Sutcliffe. This mention of his work can still be found on the covers of old music albums, which is very pleased with the numerous fans who are fond of biographies of celebrities.

Stuart Sutcliffe lived a short life, but was forever remembered by many people. He is remembered by fans of The Beatles, and seekers of unusual paintings in his living room. He could become a nugget, who managed to uncover the true creative potential. It is not known how his life would have developed without that meeting with the hooligans. You can guess about this endlessly, but it's better to just study his pictures, which are filled with fears, dark corners and incomprehensible silhouettes. He saw the world a little differently than people who used to live and work in gray offices. The guy was part of a well-known musical group and maybe that's why his work is still in price.