A self-portrait by the acclaimed Scottish artist Jack Vettriano is set to go on public display in Edinburgh, marking the first anniversary of his death.
The self-taught painter, aged 73, was discovered deceased in his flat in Nice, France, on 1 March last year.
Titled Portrait Of The Artist, the work will be exhibited at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait from Sunday, 1 March this year.
This piece is the first of two self-portraits loaned by the artist’s estate, which will be showcased consecutively over a six-year period. Portrait Of The Artist will remain on display until early 2029, after which it will be replaced by the second work, Homage To Fontana?.
Imogen Gibbon, head of portraiture and photography and chief curator at National Galleries Scotland, expressed her enthusiasm: "We’re thrilled to be welcoming visitors to the Portrait gallery to come and see Portrait Of The Artist by Jack Vettriano. It feels particularly significant that we are able to showcase a self-portrait to celebrate Vettriano’s contribution to Scottish culture on the anniversary of his death."
She added that the works would join other contemporary portraits of influential Scots, extending thanks to the artist’s estate for their support.
Carolyn Osborne, director of Jack Vettriano Publishing Limited, highlighted the artist’s connection with the public: "Jack was known as the People’s Painter and it’s entirely fitting that the public will be able to see one of his paintings in such a beautiful setting within a mile of where it was painted."
Vettriano, originally from Fife, left school at 15 to pursue a career as a mining engineer. His artistic journey began after receiving a box of watercolours for his 21st birthday. He honed his skills by studying the Old Masters, Impressionists, and Scottish artists, drawing inspiration from works he encountered at Kirkcaldy Galleries.
His breakthrough came in 1988 when two of his submissions to the Royal Scottish Academy’s annual exhibition sold on the opening day, paving the way for international success throughout the 1990s.
Portrait Of The Artist, created in 1993, is an early self-portrait, painted a year after his renowned work, The Singing Butler. The later piece, Homage To Fontana?, painted in 1999, features slashes in the canvas, a direct reference to the Argentine-Italian artist Lucio Fontana (1899–1968), whose pioneering works blurred the lines between two and three dimensions.
