AFRICA ART, ARTISTS AND WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS from @shumbahills - BLOG#1, The story of the lost portrait of Tutu, Princess of Nigeria

In my first coming blog dedicated to African Art and Artists I would like to tell you about the lost portrait. In March 2018 some of great piece of Africa art has been sold in Bonhams Africa Now auction for a record price £1,205,00! And this painting has been sold after record 20-minutes telephone bidding to an anonymous bidder.  

It was the portrait of Tutu, or Adelutu Ademiluyi in full name, Nigeria Princess. All the things related with  Tutu’s portrait remind some detective issue. Famous Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu (often considered Nigeria's most renowned contemporary artist and credited as the father of Nigerian modernism, died in 1994) has created 3 versions of Tutu in 1970th and all of them have dissapeared completely more than 40 years ago while one of the portrait (which has been sold in auction) was being discovered in some of London flat last year. Current whereabouts of the other 2 versions is still unknown. Well-known novelist Ben Okri described the work as "the most significant discovery in contemporary African art in over fifty years. It is the only authentic Tutu, the equivalent of some rare archaeological find. It is a cause for celebration, a potentially transforming moment in the world of art." And I’m sure everyone could agree with him just having a quick look at this significant work.   

The lost and later founded portrait of Tutu was sold in auction

and

One of two other versions, still being lost

First of all is the historical and cultural meaning of this work as Tutu herself was the grand-daughter of a revered Yoruba leader and during her life she became the sacred person and symbol of national reconciliation.   

And after all, the portrait itself is one of the significant and expressive sample of impressionist style of painting. But in fact Ben Enwonwu was renowned African artist and sculptor already by the moment he met Tutu in 1973. He was educated in London in 1940th and he became a reputable sculptor right after he created a bronze statue of Queen Elizabeth The Second. 

Queen Elizabeth II has visited Lagos in 1957 and met Ben that time. Their meet is in this photo.

Now this bronze statue of Queen is installed in front of Parliament building in Lagos. While the portraits of Ben Enwounwu are suggested as masterpieces of painting. In anyway I totally agree with those who think in this way when I look at Tutu’s portrait.   

Ben Enwonwu at work in his studio