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What is Wrong With 'The Singing Butler'?

What is Wrong With 'The Singing Butler'?

(Charles Buell's post, "Everyone loves "What is wrong with this picture?" type contests." inspired this question re: a favorite painting.)

While this painting has become very well known and a delight to look at, the flaws aren't readily apparent as its beautiful attraction. In a way it has become so 'seen' as to become a bit too common.

A romantic, and a dancer, I've loved Jack Vettriano's painting 'The Singing Butler' well before it was very well known, let alone famous. It held special significance for me then and now - the custom framed print has been hanging on my walls for about 10 years.

Spending considerable time looking at it, I realized that while Mr. Vettriano is a terrific artist, there is a significant flaw in the subject presentation.

Singing Butler Art Print
Vettriano, Jack

Can you spot the flaw? There are a couple. What do you see?

Posted by Deborah Pearce on 11/16/2008 06:32 PM

Comments (22)

Art in the Home Improvement Channel

what is wrong with the singing butler, painting, flaws, dancing, jack vettriano, print, error, wind, license

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22 Comments on What is Wrong With 'The Singing Butler'?

NOV

2008

Is the maid's shadow a match of her image? You've got to tell me, now it'll drive me crazy!

NOV

2008

the horizon seems a bit low, the 'wind' isn't consistant, and the hands are in the wrong position for dancing in the rain. seriously- I don't know- just made this up- looks OK to me. cheryl ( in the spirit of what's wrong:

Daddy Big-Bucks forgot to pay the dance teacher and Lilly Light foot got kick out on the streets to beg for lessons. Lucky for her, the maid and butler we able to get a few tips together to pay for a quick turn in the RAIN.) Willis

Deborah, there is some artistic license with the lighting and that some things seem less affected by the strong wind than others----like the umbrellas and the puddles.

NOV

2008

Commenting further from Charles, The dancers hair is not mussed, their clothing is not blown, nor is the butler's tail being blown like the maid's apron...

Angela Reeves (Royal LePage - Coronation West)

Hi Angela - you are onto something a it appears that the painter, Vettriano hasn't really decided where the sun is in the painting, showing long shadows, yet without the sun in the appropriate position. But there is a significant error yet ......

Cheryl Willis, MO BROKER GRI,SRS Buying & Selling Real Estate (Mt Vernon) (RE/MAX Solutions- OZARK MISSOURI)

Cheryl - interesting - and valid points you make - the horizon is okay, but you are close with the idea of the 'hands' position........

Hi Charles - you are correct with the issues of the wind effects - you may have to be a dancer to really spot the biggest error in this lovely painting.

Charles Buell, Seattle, WA, Home Inspector (Charles Buell Inspections.com)

Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.)

You picked up on the wind issues Michael; there's still a main glaring error that many don't see

Deborah, you hit the nail on the head there-----I am not much of a dancer:)

Deborah, I am not a ball room dancer. However if it were 2 steppin' that would be another story. If I were to just take a SWAG, it would have to deal with the positioning of the lady. She seems to be leaning to the right while her 'pardner' should be leaning or twisting to the left so that they would be in balance. Right now they look out of balance in relationship to each other...

However, if they were doing the tango or similar dance, she would be in step with him based on the direction of their torsos... Either way, they are not balanced...

Bubba Fife (Complete Property Maintenance)

Bubba !!! Great to hear from ya! You are very close. There are some very odd things about the positioning for certain. However the most glaringthing that is wrong took me some time admiring this painting to figure out.

The same thing would be wrong in two steppin', as well as any other pardner dance I can think of, Have another look - if anyone can get this - you can!

Hi again Charles - the error here is very basic to any closed frame couples dancing. Bubba might just get this one!

Deborah, maybe this is a liberated woman and she like to take the lead when they dance. cw

You are GOOD Cheryl! If she were leading, which is difficult to tell, she would indeed be leading from the man's position and not the woman's.

SO CLOSE!!!!!!!!!!! let's see if Bubba gets it, since he's a dancer.

NOV

2008

Hi Deborah ... I return to stare at this painting periodically, and I finally had to research it, which led me to the discovery that it is quite controversial, especially the artist's source for the couple. Anyway, I still haven't a clue beyond the wind seeming not to affect them and that they seem to be toe to toe, which looks awkward. I'm not much on waltzes or whatever they are doing. I like the painting though and his work in general.

Are they holding umbrellas up for the wind, or is it supposed to be raining? The shadows seeem to be off, as the women's is really short compared to the others. The only other maybe odd thing would be the tuxedo paints that the guys are wearing. If the sun was on the other side (as noted by the shadows) then you wouldn't really see that shiny black stripe down the side. Otherwise... is her right foot in a very awkward position? Given that her hips are turned to the left, and her butt looks squared up (positionally), can the leg and foot rotate like that?

Are any of those close? I am not an artist, nor a dancer.

Just took another look ... Is it that their feet are headed in a different direction than their upper bodies? Can they actually take another step in that position? Are you going to tell us? :\

Hello Marie - While I stilll really enjoy Vettriano's art, it has been speculated that he 'traced' and colored in the images. Something I've discovered is that in fact many modern artists 'cheat', going to the extent of using projectors.

Matt - your points are all valid. Jack Vettriano claims not to be a studied artist, really! The sun and reflections are off, as are many quirky things in the picture.

Marie Meyer, Orange County New York Realtor® (Keller Williams Realty)

Since you ask Marie - I will tell you. (Honestly, I sort of forgot about this post awhile!) In addition to the many quirks here, which have caused me, along with my admiration for the color, ideals and presentation of the painting, to quizically ponder the embrace.

It finally came to me that the frame or embrace is actually backwards. Cheryl came sort of close in suggesting 'she' may be 'leading', which is impossible to tell. If she were, she would be leading he male role.

This is it! In couples dance the frame is actually opposite. It should be open to her right and not her left.

DEC

2008

Hi Deborah,

Just a little bit obscure, but a subtlety that we home inspectors are required to find. Concerning the person who suggested that the man's hair isn't affected by the wind. During the era of this painting, men seriously laquered their hair in place. It would take a gale force wind to disturb it.

DEC

2008

Hi to you too David,

I'm with you on the hair - I had the same thoughts!

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