Pencil, 35 by 20 cm

Exhibited: John Minton: A Centenary, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester, July - October 2017 (catalogue: Fig 75 Illustrated page 71)

Provenance: Jeffrey Bernard, sold to Nicholas Luard; Nicholas and Elisabeth Luard 

Nicolas Luard acquired the work from Jeffrey Bernard, the famous hard drinking journalist when Nicholas lived in a flat in Hand Park Square. Bernard was a lodger. Nicholas and Elisabeth moved to Brynmeheryn, Ystrad Meurig, a house in Wales when the drawing was given to Nicholas by Monica Rawlins, his godmother. Elisabeth said of this drawing, "it has hung on my walls throughout my life".

Nicholas Luard was the owner, with Peter Cook, of London's Establishment club. Elisabeth was a former socialite and food writer. In 2015 she decided to move to London and sold her collection of art at Cheffins, Cambridge.

Eric Verrico

Artist in pencil, linograph, poster and watercolour and pen and ink, born and lived in London. His surname was changed to Verrier after the war because of anti-Italian feelings. Verrier was taken by his headmaster to Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. "I really didn't want to go, but I was there and that was that". Verrier developed into a fine portrait draughtsman duding his few student years, his teacher, John Minton, being a "very strong influence ... I never heard a bad word said about him". Hearing that Minton had committed suicide "I was devastated".

Leaving art school at 16 he tried to get a job before joining the Royal Air Force. After National Service, being married and starting a family Verrico rejected art as a way of earning a living, instead managing a television shop, then becoming a motor dealer. Never exhibiting, having given up art in 1948 but his work was later shown at the Fine Art Society and included in John Minton and Friends  Michael Parking Gallery, 1997.

Compare: Stephen Ongpin Fine Art, London, Portrait of a seated youth - Eric Verrico.