By Cara Sulieman
POPULAR Scots artist Jack Vettriano has designed a special elephant for a charity auction featuring his most famous creation – the Singing Butler.
Dubbed The Singing Butler Rides Again, the work is one of 250 created for the auction by British artists and designers.
The auction is raising money for charity the Elephant Family, who work to protect Asian elephants and their habitat.
As well as the Elephant Mela – where 30 specially created figures will be sold under the hammer – The Singing Butler Rides Again is part of the Elephant Parade, with the models on display throughout London.
“Fun”
Vettriano’s creation features the Singing Butler sat astride a white elephant with his trademark umbrella in hand.
It is currently sited at Burlington Arcade near Picadilly Circus and has been sponsored by Sir Evelyn de Rothschild in memory of the late Rajmata of Jaipur who was a patron of the Elephant Family.
Bids for the five foot statue have already reached £3,000 online, and are expected to raise even more cash for the charity when the live auction gets underway on June 30.
Speaking about his inspiration for the figure, Vettriano said: “I created a now well known painting called The Singing Butler and I thought it would be fun to feature him once more.
“The Elephant is also a tribute to the incredible founding patron of The Elephant Family, the late Rajmata of Jaipur.”
The whole herd of 258 elephants will be on display at the Royal Hospital Chelsea from June 23 to July 3.
Bids can be lodged in advance at http://www.givinglots.co.uk/lots/120—the-singing-butler-rides-again.
