Penniless Artist leaves Millions

[loft artist]

Eccentric Artist Robert Lenkiewicz Died in 2002 aged just 60 of a heart attack , executors of his estate found just £ 18 in his home , he didn't even have a bank account didn't pay any Taxes and hugely in debt .

He painted Portraits and liked to paint Alchoholics and vagrants as they had character ,

Tramp and self portrait
Lawyers spent seven years settling his accounts his personal effects which included 10.000 works of art plus £1 million or $1 1/2m Collection of books and even more bizarrely found an 'embalmed tramp' in one of his cupboards [ I bet that made Damien Hurst envious] that had been there since 1984

They are now hoping to set up a 'Lenkiewicz Foundation' to Exhibit his works

So just when you think nothing can surprise you any more think again ! there always skeletons in everyone's cupboards

[cjorgensen]

I like these two paintings. I wish I could paint like that.

[ianuk]

That's what'll happen with me if I don't get out of this house...

I like to paint tramps, I should do self portraits..

[saje]

this is an absolutly great story. there are so many meanings and reasons to take to heart. great artist

[alfreda]

wow,what a story, thanks for sharing it.

[loft artist]

Wish I'd met Robert , sounds like a great character , some french Impressionists come to mind !

[harson]

very interesting .theres an old guy living down the road from me total drunk but what an artist he does beutifull paintings but i dont know how he manages in the state he is in

[colorsplasher]

He was obviously a very deep person to capture the life in that tramp painting. The "embalmed tramp" rather ensures that Mr. Lenkiewicz will be remembered!

[brianvds]

Cool story. Do you perhaps have a URL to the article?

[annya]

I don't know exactly which article Loft Artist is referring to, but there are some more bizarre details at :

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...th-828934.html

Ann

[Mariette Deveau]

Wow. How bizarre.

Where did the 'embalmed tramp' come from? I wonder.
Did he steal it (already embalmed), or did he kill him and do the embalming himself?

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[loft artist]

I think the Penniless title was a bit erroneous , I think he was from a wealthy Jewish family , but lived a starving artists existence ,
The cadaver in question was a tramp he befriended and for whatever reason had him embalmed when he died , and eventually ended up in a cupboard , perhaps the cleaning lady got fed up of it lying around making the studio untidy ,

I'm sure the TV scriptwriters are scribbling away at this very moment , what a good screenplay this story would make !

the article I read it in was the local free paper 'METRO' on 08 or 09 september 09 a UK paper

Loft

[Mariette Deveau]

Originally Posted by loft artist

...

The cadaver in question was a tramp he befriended and for whatever reason had him embalmed when he died , and eventually ended up in a cupboard

...

Is it legal to have a cadaver in one's home?


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Yeah, would make an interesting movie.

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