Henrik Larsson. A Work of Art

09/05/04: The Sunday Herald

Henrik Larsson's departure from Celtic is to be commemorated by the release of this exclusive artwork painted by the Scottish artist Peter Howson.
The painting, which will go under the hammer at Christie's Scotland later this month, is expected to raise at least £40,000 - more than double the record for a Howson sold at auction. Proceeds of the sale are to be halved between Howson's Third Step charity for recovering addicts and a deserving cause picked by Larsson.

Talks between the Celtic striker and Howson have been taking place over the last six weeks to finalise the details of the sale before Larsson bids farewell to Scottish football. However, in addition to the 4ft by 3ft oil on canvas, 1,000 numbered reproductions of the painting will be printed, signed by the artist, and made available through the Third Step's website. The reproductions will cost £150.

Howson, one of Scotland's most celebrated but controversial artists, is best known for his depictions of cruelty and suffering in the Bosnia conflict. Following his time there in the 1990s, when he was the UK's official war artist, Howson began drinking heavily and experienced flashbacks of the traumatic scenes he witnessed.

In 2000, he was admitted to the Castle Craig hospital in West Linton, Peeblesshire, suffering from the effects of alcohol and drug abuse. He has since turned to Christianity to help overcome his addiction and last year co-founded the Third Step charity to help other addicts battle their demons.

His painting of Larsson depicts the Celtic forward celebrating after scoring for his club.

Howson said: "You've got tremendous movement in the painting and Larsson is such a great subject. I had the chance of him posing for me but I decided against that because I really wanted to get him in action."

Howson, an Ayr United fan, said he chose Larsson because of his talent and his place as a great ambassador for the game. "He takes his responsibilities as a public figure very seriously. He's never put a foot wrong.

"We would hope to get at least £40,000 for the painting, perhaps more. The most important thing is to raise money for our charity."

Howson's biggest sale at auction came in 2002, when his oil Pocket Full Of Poesies was bought at Christie's for £19,000. Although details of the sale are still being finalised, it is hoped the auction will be available on-line to take account of the huge Celtic following in Ireland and the US.

John Mullen, a recovering alcoholic who co-founded the charity with Howson, said: "This money would allow us to raise money to set up a building to accommodate 12 people who were coming out of Castle Craig after their four-week programme and resettle them slowly back into the community. Too often people come back out and they go back into the same environment that they were in before and the problems start over again."

Bernard Williams, director of Christie's Scotland, confirmed the auction house was in talks to hold the sale.

Howson added: "This is definitely the last footballing painting I will ever do. This is the only chance to get hold of the Larsson work. Even if David Beckham asked me to paint him I wouldn't do it. He's not exciting enough."

Liam McDougall

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