A talented fellow student of John Lennon’s at the Liverpool College of Art, Stuart Sutcliffe (1940–1962) played the bass (unremarkably, some note) in the first incarnation of the Beatles. Uncomfortable on stage, he soon left the group to devote himself to his art career; not long after, he died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of twenty-one. Original unsigned ink and wash sketch of a left hand reaching out (presumably Sutcliffe’s), and a four-pronged figure on an off-white 8 x 10.5 sheet from one of Sutcliffe’s art school sketchbooks submitted as an applicant for admission to the Royal College of Art, which was the property of the Sutcliffe estate and was sold at Bonhams auction in July 2003. Accompanied by a printed statement of provenance. In fine condition, with some scattered light soiling and ink marks. COA Roger Epperson/REAL and R&R COA.
