JOHN LENNON DRAWING 1959 BEATLES ART! Ex Christies auctions 21.11.2006

Two very rare early pencil sketches on either side of a page from a sketch book, executed by John Lennon during his first year at Liverpool Art School, comprising of a thin shovel-footed percussionist and on the verso comprising various multi-eyed, strange limbed musicians playing different instruments. The images are quite surreal and express Lennon's rebel personality during his short time at the College.

With some bends or creases and minor marginal tears. 24 x 15,5 cm. John Lennon was a notorious rebel during his short time at Liverpool College of Art, a fellow student and friend commented. There were always musicians in John's early drawings, a band on a bandstand, dim lights, something sleazy.. Arthur Ballard, one of Lennon's tutors at Art College recalled.

That his work was remarkable in that it was virtually non-existent: "When it came time for the students' work to be displayed around the walls at the end of term, John Lennon was the only student I have ever known to have other members of the class cover up for him by displaying their work as his". However, Ballard's opinion of Lennon's ability was modified when he came across John's cartoons for the first time. One day I found this notebook, full of caricatures... The wittiest things I'd ever seen...- which convinced him that Lennon's talent was as a purveyor of surreal humour rather than in "serious" art..

The Art of the Beatles. London: Muller, Blond and White Ltd. London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1984, p.

Christies auctions (London) 21.11.2006 lot 203. This one is certainly the most spectacular of the two. Stanley Gibbons/Frasers (London) 03.09.2010, with the stock ref. IF YOU WISH MORE PICTURES OF DETAILS, JUST ASK. IF YOU WISH YOU CAN VIEW ON REQUEST THE ORIGINAL IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

---