EARLIER this year, Jack Vettriano had to endure criticism of his technique and predictions of a slump in sales, but next year, one of his most famous works is set to break the £500,000 barrier when it goes under the hammer.
Dance me to the end of Love, described by critics as his most famous painting after The Singing Butler, has already set the art market alive with some experts predicting it could even smash the £750,000 record for one of Vettriano's works.
The ar
tist's last beach painting, it will be auctioned in Edinburgh next March, but will go on display for a limited period in the capital's Harvey Nichols store from next week.
Last night, Richard Longwill, director of Edinburgh-based auction house Shapes, who is handling the sale, described it as an amazing coup for Scotland. He said: "In terms of recognition and popularity, it is on a par with The Singing Butler if not over it.
"This is the first time the painting has really been shown to the general public. For years it has been squirrelled away in a private house in England.
"For all the controversy surrounding Vettriano in recent weeks, he is a survivor, and there is no doubt he does have a special quality that he brings to art.
"In terms of light, colour and composition he can paint - there is no doubt about it - and he is still very, very popular.
"His work seems to strike a nerve with a certain generation that are attracted to the film noir nostalgic element.Ten years ago people were saying that it wouldn't last, but it has."
The painting was bought by a female Scottish collector in 1998 for £30,000 after she saw it on display at an exhibition in London's Portland gallery.
Originally it was not for sale but the woman, who was recently widowed, managed to persuade Vettriano and his agent Tom Hewlitt to sell her the painting, as it reminded her of ballroom dancing with her late husband.
Since then its popularity has grown enormously, and its image has been reproduced on posters and postcards all over the world.
Shapes auctioneers is hoping for a price in the region of £500,000. But some experts say that it could beat the £750,000 achieved for The Singing Butler last year.
Hewlitt said: "It is probably second only to The Singing Butler in terms of popularity. It is a very well-known image and I would imagine it could achieve a price in the region of £500,000 - probably more."
Earlier this year Vettriano was forced to defend himself against charges of plagiarism, after he was accused of copying his most famous paintings from a reference book.
The artist said that the reference volumes at the centre of the criticism were there precisely to give painters a source of inspiration.
Dance me to the end of Love will be sold at Shapes auctioneers on March 4, 2006.
