STUART SUTCLIFFE (1940-1962); oil on paper, untitled, unsigned, 58 x 45cm, framed and glazed.

Presented with certificate of authenticity signed by Mrs Millie Sutcliffe August 1964.

Exhibited; Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

Exhibited; I.C.A. London.

Presented with the work is a huge file relating to the artist including exhibition catalogues, newspaper articles, invitation to the exhibition held at the St George St Gallery 1990, etc.

Also presented with the lot is an e-mail from the Stuart Sutcliffe estate detailing this work and noted 'You do however a particularly good Hamburg work-on -paper, circa 1961-62 with excellent provenance. Not only was it exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery but my mother, Millie wanted Muriel to have a piece as a gift and your aunt chose it herself - key point, it's come directly from the estate. And for your information, none of the Hamburg work is titled and most are not signed. The authenticity certificate should be on the back of the piece unless it has been removed as a result of reframing'.

Stuart Sutcliffe was known as the fifth Beatle having been the original base guitarist of the band. He left the group to pursue his career as an artist and attending the Liverpool College of Art He enrolled at the Hamburg College of Art and studied under Eduardo Paolozzi who later wrote a report stating that Sutcliffe was one of his best students. Whilst studying in Germany Sutcliffe began suffering from headaches and experienced acute light sensitivity. In February 1962 he collapsed in the middle of an art class after complaining of head pains. Despite numerous tests doctors were unable to determine the cause of the headaches. He collapsed again on the 10th April 1962 and it was on the way to the hospital in the ambulance that he tragically died. The cause of death was later found to have been a brain haemorrhage.