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Title: Unskilled labourer died aged 86 and left unseen legacy of 400 paintings
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URL Source: http://www.scoopyweb.com/2021/06/th ... ry-unskilled-labourer-who.html
Published: Jun 25, 2021
Author: staff
Post Date: 2021-06-25 23:50:55 by Horse
Keywords: None
Views: 132
Comments: 1
He will have his work displayed at two of London's leading art galleries Ex-boxer Eric Tucker left school at 14 without qualifications and worked as a builder in Warrington, Cheshire. His family discovered the 400 artworks when Eric, 86, died in July 2018 and they went to clear out his home Now his works of 'the very heart of northern working-class life' will be displayed in two London galleries. An unskilled labourer who left a secret legacy of 70-years worth of artworks stacked in the cupboards at his terraced home is to have his work displayed at two of London's top galleries. Ex-boxer Eric Tucker, whose works have been likened to LS Lowry, left school aged 14 without any qualifications and worked for the majority of his life as a builder in Warrington, Cheshire. But unbeknown to his family the painter created over 400 oil and watercolours in his front room, depicting 'the very heart of northern working-class life' in his hometown over a seven-decade period. Rather than offering them for sale or exhibition Eric kept his works out of public view - and instead stacked them around his unassuming end terraced property where he lived in for virtually all his life including his airing cupboard, in his shed and on top of his wardrobes. The massive painting collection was only discovered by relatives after the bachelor, who lived alone and braved arthritis in his later years, passed away in July 2018 aged 86 and they went to clear out his home. A scene by Tucker depicting a smokey bar. He often drank in local pubs and working men's clubs and his paintings were often based on barroom scenes work displayed at two of London's leading art galleries There are also several paintings of clowns, following on from Eric's love of the circus as a child and portraits of his parents. Now the former professional boxer – whose paintings were rejected by the art establishment while he was alive – is finally to have his talent celebrated after the unexpected discovery led critics to laud him as 'the secret Lowry'. Alon Zakaim Fine Art and Connaught Brown in West London have teamed up to present 40 of the late artist's evocative scenes of working-class life in the industrial North in their collaborative exhibition, Eric Tucker: The Secret Painter. Previously Eric's former home had temporarily turned into a free art gallery for one weekend only to display his paintings and they also went on display at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery followed in 2000. He painted his community in Warrington without judgement, but instead with humour and witty observation. 'Although largely hidden during his lifetime, we are looking forward to giving Tucker's work the recognition it deserves.' Richard Cork, critic and art historian said: 'Now that his art has at last been rescued from undeserved obscurity, it enables us to share a whole range of vividly defined emotions and experiences at the very heart of northern working-class life.' Eric the oldest of three children was born at the property in 1932 and left school in 1946 when he was just 14. He took up boxing and served four years in the Royal Horse Guards in Germany before working for local building contractors Arthur Monk in Warrington. He often drank in local pubs and working men's clubs and his paintings were often based on barroom scenes. Younger brother Tony said previously: 'We did know Eric had a passion for art but never realised he had hoarded a huge collection in his home. Eric took up boxing in his younger years. 'He was a very modest man who never talked up his skills and despite doing sketches in his local he appeared to everyone just to be an ordinary Joe. 'Now all of the family have been wonderful, and we've all worked together in the hope that we will do justice to Eric's work justice and get him the recognition he so richly deserves. 'We're just sad that he isn't alive to see this all happen.' Eric, who never married, did attempt to get recognition for his work – but it was a bitter experience. Tony says he managed to sell two paintings through a dealer, but the stress – and the shock of having to pay commission to the dealer – put him off. 
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#1. To: Horse (#0)
I'll bet they took fully 50% of what the paintings sold for. I'd be shocked also. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Tony says he managed to sell two paintings through a dealer, but the stress – and the shock of having to pay commission to the dealer – put him off. (7 images)
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