Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
Hated by an establishment who saw being popular as almost sinful
The Guardian
|March 04, 2025
In 1992, Jack Vettriano's painting The Singing Butler was rejected by the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
Yet The Singing Butler not only wasn't a dud, it went on to become one of the most ubiquitous and - whisper it - iconic British paintings since the second world war.
And that tells you a lot about the Scottish artist. The art establishment has always despised him, but the rest of the world - if you can accept some awkward, problematic conception of "ordinary people" - absolutely lapped up his art. He wasn't lauded by the art world. He sure wasn't celebrated by critics. Vettriano was something else, something almost sinful - he was popular.
This story is from the March 04, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Reeves 'discussing an increase to income tax' in November budget
Rachel Reeves is considering raising income tax to help eliminate a multi-billion-pound black hole, sources have told the Guardian.
4 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
'The perfect symbol' Ballroom blitz inspires chorus of condemnation
When Barack Obama roasted Donald Trump at the 2011 White House Correspondents' Association dinner, the icing on the cake was a cartoon of what the White House might look like if Trump ever became US president.
4 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
'Stay calm and block the noise'
Van Dijk's Liverpool summit clears air after losing streak
2 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
Just redo it: inside Nike's plans to put swoosh back into its sales
World's largest sportswear brand reveals innovations and a new slogan to rebound from a 'pretty big kicking'
11 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
Villa stunned in Netherlands and Rangers' slump goes on
Aston Villa suffered a Europa League humbling as they were beaten 2-1 by Dutch minnows Go Ahead Eagles in Deventer.
1 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
'History can be healed' Charles visit offers hope for interfaith conciliation
AImost every British schoolchild is taught that Henry VIII, the swaggering Tudor king driven by lust and his quest for an heir, broke away from the Roman Catholic church in 1534 after the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
2 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
Old haunts English Heritage goes on a ghost hunt
Alerted to an intruder, the security guard at Chester Castle knew something was up when his normally fearless dog refused to leave the car. When the guard investigated, he felt \"a hundred eyes\" on him- but found no one.
2 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
We won't bow to US pressure, says Putin
Vladimir Putin has said Russia will never bow to US pressure but conceded new sanctions could cause economic pain, as China and India were reportedly scaling back Russian oil imports after Washington targeted Moscow's two largest producers.
3 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
Booker launches children's award
The Booker Prize Foundation has launched a major new literary award, the Children's Booker prize, offering £50,000 for the best fiction written for readers aged eight to 12.
3 mins
October 24, 2025
The Guardian
'They can ruin Russia as a petro-state'
How US sanctions plan could work
3 mins
October 24, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size