| |
Lenkiewicz and his mural on Plymouth's Barbican |
The final Lenk in the chain
Eccentric artist’s work finally to see light of day after years in storage
SEVEN years ago the eccentric painter and enfant terrible of the art world Robert Lenkiewicz died penniless, an embalmed corpse of a tramp in his bedroom cupboard the final thing he laid eyes on.
Despite painting more than 10,000 works and being rated an artist of “national significance” by the British Museum, Lenkiewicz was
crippled with millions of pounds worth of debts, triggering a mini-
stampede from lawyers wanting to recover the money and claimants trying to get their hands on his will.
Now his estate, which includes dozens of paintings collecting dust in a Plymouth museum and books he had bought throughout his life, has been valued at £6.5million and his debts are close to being settled, according to Francis Mallett, a trustee of The Lenkiewicz Foundation (TLF), which manages the estate.
Over the last seven years, millions of pounds worth of art and a vast collection of occult and witchcraft books have been sold off at auctions in
London and Exeter to repay his debts. The final five paintings are being donated to TLF and will be put on display with others from his collection at the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery.
Lenkiewicz courted controversy all his life until dying from a heart attack aged 60 in 2002. He is best known for his many wives and lovers, giving him the “Henry VIII of the art world” tag as well as the macabre nature of his subjects, with dying men a particular favourite.
His son Wolfe von Lenkiewicz lives in Lancaster Gate and said the family were happy the paintings were finally being displayed in public.
“This is good news. It’s ridiculous how long this has taken but that’s lawyers for you.
“Having such a big family makes these things difficult because everybody thinks they know what my dad would have wanted. The good news is that the money is taken care of and people will finally be able to see his paintings which have been collecting dust in this church.”
Lenkiewicz was born in London in 1941, the son of refugees. He moved to Plymouth in 1964 where he painted a string of alcoholics and vagrants.
Foundation trustee Francis Mallett said: “We’re now looking to promote the art of Robert Lenkiewicz.” |
 |
|
|
| |
| |
