We all know that John Lennon met his first wife Cynthia Powell in art college in Liverpool. When Cynthia became pregnant with son Julian, John and Cynthia tied the knot and they would stay together until their divorce in 1968.
When John was murdered in 1980, Cynthia a year later made a decision to return to her sketches that chronicled those hectic years that she spent with John through the years of Beatlemania, the end of touring and the beginning of the studio years. In 1981 the Tower Gallery sponsored a collection of her prints from that era that she had drawn. In several public appearances, she signed some of those prints for fans. The one you see here was signed for me in New York City in September of 1981 at a New York Fest for Beatles Fans. Cynthia was very pleasant and cordial in signing her print of the Beatles and their wives/girlfriend in India with the Maharishi in 1968 just around the time that Brian Epstein passed away. In 1981, Cynthia was married to John Twist.
John and Cyn: Cynthia the Artist
Cynthia’s inscription to me on the print that I purchased from her:
Cynthia’s signature on the print:
In the year 2000, Cynthia Lennon created this special box set portfolio of 4 signed prints she did of John as a gift to her son, Julian. I was able to obtain a signed set from eBay several years ago. The photos below are the set that I acquired.
The boxed portfolio containing the four prints that Cynthia di of her former husband!
In 2000, Cynthia Lennon, the 1st wife of John and mother of Julian, painted four portraits of John and gave them to Julian as a birthday gift on the 20th anniversary of John’s death in 1980. A production company in London contracted to produce a “limited edition” of these portraits in colour lithograph prints. The promotion never went through but there were 300 sets of these prints produced. This example is in near-mint condition.
The four-piece artwork set was printed by Napier Jones to Fine Art Trade Guild Standards
PRINT #1- A 1963 DEPICTION:
Print #1 (top) is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1963 in his collarless jacket.
PRINT #2-BEATLEMANIA
Print #2 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1965, the year the Beatles received their Member of the British Empire medals from the Queen of England. John was to return his medal in 1969 as gesture of protest against the British government!
John Lennon in 1965 by Cynthia Lennon
PRINT #3-THE PSYCHEDELIC JOHN: 1967
Print #3 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1967, during the period of time that Sgt Pepper was released and John and the other Beatles had finally stopped touring
PRINT #4-1980 THE YEAR JOHN WAS TAKEN AWAY:
Print #4 is a depiction of how John Lennon looked in the year 1980, when John`s life was so quickly and cruelly taken.
AN AUDIO BOOK ABOUT JOHN LENNON READ BY CYNTHIA LENNON: WITH AN AUDIO INTRODUCTION BY JULIAN LENNON
The book version of John was published in 2005 and was far more forthright and direct about her emotions concerning the split with John.
This is the audio version of that book:
I love this 4-cd set which featured Cynthia Lennon reading her book about her life with John Lennon. The set also featured an audio introduction by their son, Julian Lennon. In the introduction, you can easily see the devotion and love Julian had for his mum!
A special Lennon biography written by journalist Ray Coleman and signed by the author along with Cynthia and Julian Lennon!
Hope you enjoyed this discussion of Cynthia Lennon, a lady who raised a wonderful son and musician. That in itself is a great legacy to leave the world! She will not be forgotten!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
This is fantastic! Love Cyn and her work. Thanks for this, Buzz! Your collection astounds me…we all appreciate your sharing with us! Jude
Thank you, Jude, for all of your hard work producing the ultimate John Lennon narrative with your series of excellent books!