John’s drawing – or Paul’s?
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| Sketch found at Kenwood – but is it by John? |
This image released by Julien’s Auctions shows a black and white drawing of the iconic “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club” album cover. The drawing, discovered by the owners of the Weybridge house in England where John Lennon lived from 1964-68, will be auctioned on May 20, 2017. (Julien’s Auctions via AP) (Associated Press).
The concept of the cover was famously Paul’s. And we have to admit that we’re in doubt whether this drawing was one of John’s or Paul’s. When this story was posted on several Facebook pages and groups dedicated to The Beatles, more than a few fans were in doubt. What do you think?
Lots of people only associate John with simple pen drawings, not realising that Paul McCartney also is fond of draing little caricatures, as revealed in his Composer/Artist book from 1981.
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| In 1981, Paul McCartney published this book of music, lyrics and drawings. |
Source: Washington Post
I'd say it's Lennon's. Sort of his style + 'features' remembered are a diva (though surprisingly un-busty for JL) and the statue of JL's house. In any case, a sketch after the facts, and not a preparatory doodle.
Yes, looks like it has been drawn to show somebody what the cover will look like, without having access to the actual photo, maybe just days after the photo was taken and before he had a copy of it. The drum logo would be on the wall though, to show what it really looks like.
It's John's drawing. If you compare the writing on the bass drum to letters handwritten by John, there are striking similarities.
This looks to be done by Lennon. I have a handwritten note from Lennon from 1980…the letter
"e" in my letter and the letter"e" in the writing on the drum are basically the same…same for the letter "n"…IMO.
It looks like a John Lennon drawing… I just hope there isn't any revisionism from Macca about it: claiming co-credit because he drew a couple of moustaches…
Joking, of course (sort of)…
Is there a reason why this has to be by either John or Paul? It doesn't look like either to me. I can't imagine John drawing a neat square frame and then three straight rows of equally-sized circular heads in the 'crowd' – his drawings are far more free in form, with sizes often disproportionate. This just looks too disciplined for him. Also, he would tend to draw human heads as continuous lines leading up from the shoulders and back down again – these have basically rectangular bodies with heads plopped on top separately.
Whoever did it, I would say, was copying the LP cover. That little statue head on the ground for example, and Diana Dors on the right are very unlikely to have been envisaged exactly in-situ at a pre-photo-shoot stage. Much more likely they were included here with reference to the finished photo – IMHO anyone might have drawn it.
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Paul for sure. The heads / "circles" looks to be drawn from a left handed persons perspective, or counterclockwise,as I do, a left handed person..,
First prove it's not by Peter Blake
It might be a swindle.
I agree the circles were drawn counter-clockwise. But I'm right-handed and I draw little circles this way too.
Of all The Beatles artistic pursuits outside of music , the one I have always enjoyed most are Paul's impressions. He's quite good and funny as hell.