A rare painting with a link to the Fab Four is set to go under the hammer.
The picture was painted by Arthur Ballard, a key figure in the Liverpool art scene in the 1950s and 60s, who also lectured at Liverpool School of Art where he tutored John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe, the original bass guitarist in The Beatles.
Toby Lennox-Hilton, Paintings and Asian Art Specialist at Wotton Auction Rooms, said: “It’s a very sweet painting of rooftops in a residential street by Arthur Alexander Ballard.
“The painting is inscribed on the back as being a depiction of Fordingbridge, Hampshire, dated July 1954. It’s signed in the bottom left corner with the monogram AB and the date 54 as well.
“What’s particularly interesting about this painting is that Ballard was within the Liverpool art scene in the 1950s and 60s. He was a tutor at the Liverpool School of Art, while both John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe were students, and I believe that he was at their tutor.
“It’s also believed that he may have even guided Stuart Sutcliffe into pursuing an arts career over music, which he later chose to do.”
The oil painting, measuring 33 x 41cm, will be sold at Wotton Auction Rooms in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire on Wednesday August 20th and has an estimate of £300-500.
