A Wigan artist whom Lowry said was his superior is finally to get his due with an important exhibition
For decades works of the reclusive Theodore Major have been on the fringes of the art world, but is hoped that a new exhibition showing his full range might be about to change all that
Could this be the moment that finally reveals the true genius of Wigan artist Theodore Major to the world?
That is the question on many people’s lips as a significant exhibition and sale of his works comes to a gallery nearby later this week.
It is 27 years since the prolific painter, who lived in Appley Bridge, died but because he was often reluctant to sell his works because he didn’t want them to become wealthy people’s assets, only a fraction of what he produced has ever been seen.
But that changes on Saturday September 26 when Theodore Major - The Unseen Genius opens at the Heskin Gallery at Heskin Hall Shopping Village, Chorley.
A total of 30 paintings are on show and up for sale at prices ranging from £12,000 to £100,000 and they have already generated a lot of commercial as well as artistic interest.
Some of them were to have been put on show at Haigh Hall as part of the stately home’s transformation.
But they were withdrawn after the Major family sided with creative directors Al and Al when Wigan Council did not renew their contracts and a big row ensued.
The exhibition, which runs until October 11, is being curated by Hepplestone Fine Art.
Owner Giles Hepplestone said: “Major is an incredible artist, hugely respected in the art world but largely unknown outside it because there have been so few chances to see what he created.
“What is particularly exciting is that people will get a view of his full range for the first time. Everyone knows his industrial scenes and skyscapes, but now you can see his Monsters which reflected his thoughts and fears of what was happening in the world at the time, including the war in Bosnia.
“He was ahead of his time and they are very apt today.
“Lowry said that Major was the better artist and that if he’d gone to London, he would have been more famous too.
“When he died the broadsheet obituaries said they couldn’t do him justice because so little of his work had been seen, but that’s about to change.”
Mr Hepplestone said this was a long term project and that further Major exhibitions and sales were likely.