Fine Art Magazine February 2019

N E W R E L E A S E C O N T E M P L A T I O N O F B E T R A Y A L J A C K V E T T R I A N O W h e n J a c k V e t t r i a n o p a i n t e d C o n t e m p l a t i o n o f B e t r a y a l i n 2 0 0 1 , h e w a s t h i n k i n g a h e a d . I n t y p i c a l V e t t r i a n o s t y l e t h e r e w a s a w h o l e s t o r y t h e r e . 18 NEW RELEASE JACK VETTRIANO At this stage in the proceedings, it seems that the couple’s decision could go either way, and the ambiguous title allows us to decide what is going to happen next. Yet this is an illusion as the traitorous couple’s future was already mapped out by the artist with perfect clarity. All the clues are there of course. The casual assurance of the man’s pose and the assumed intimacy as he whispers into the ear of his amore; the receptive tilt of her head in response; the drink already in her hand; the sun low in the sky telling us that the evening is coming and the time is right for a romantic tryst. If Jack left his audience in any doubt however, he soon set them straight, as Contemplation is the first in a series of three betrayal images, the next of which is entitled First Kiss, and the third, No Turning Back. The original was first shown in New York then at a major retrospective exhibition to mark 20 Years of Vettriano’s career which ran for six months at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. We are delighted to make this piece available and anticipate that it will hit the secondary market at a high price, so we recommend that collectors take the opportunity to buy now at the initial release price.