Ferrari in Art – The Sporting Legacy, a collection of 25 unique original artworks celebrating everything Ferrari, has been purchased by former F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone. The series of works by international artist Mark Dickens, in collaboration with renowned F1 photographer Keith Sutton, encompasses all the features that make Ferrari so special.
“There has never been a collaboration like this before and I could not resist the opportunity to acquire it for my private collection. I know both Mark and Keith well and have always been impressed by their professionalism,” said Ecclestone. “I first became aware of Mark back in 2009 and in 2011 I commissioned him to create 19 paintings, showcasing each of that year’s races. The following year we presented each painting to the respective promoter. I have known Keith even longer, as I first met him when he started his motorsport photography career 40 years ago, and I am well aware of his enduring passion for Ferrari.”
Ecclestone is not the only notable person from the sport to have bought one of the Dickens/Sutton collaborations. In 2016 four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel acquired their first collaboration ‘World Champions in Art’. For the Ferrari artwork Sutton tracked down all the influential figures associated with the Italian brand. For each painting, drivers, owners, fans and motorsport personalities were asked to express in their own words what ‘Ferrari’ means to them. More than 129 handwritten quotes were obtained from the individuals and transferred onto the 25 pieces of artwork. The outcome was a unique, contemporary and historical collection of Ferrari art.
Dickens’ artwork involves collaborations with people and places that take the visual format of mixed media, building layers of photographic transfers, paper, gold leaf, fabric, paint and handwritten texts set in resin. The various textures of the composition are very tactile. “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Keith on this unique project,” said Dickens. “I first approached him about my idea to realise this project some three years ago, knowing his passion for Ferrari. He was delighted to be part of this historic series of artworks and quotes. It’s a proud day for me to know that 25 paintings now belong to such an iconic person in the world of Formula One. It was special to be involved in a project that I am so passionate about, and then when Bernie Ecclestone acquired it that was the vindication for what we have produced, as I am sure he has some amazing artworks in his personal collection. It is a one off project and one I will never forget. However, such a project is a mammoth undertaking and one that could not have been completed without some amazing help. I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the 119 motorsport personalities from drivers, team principals, to current and past F1 drivers, owners, fans and Ferrari collectors who gave hand written quotes and, of course, the artist Mark Dickens whose unique style complimented the wonderful Ferrari images.”
Reading the names of those who have contributed to the artwork is like a Who’s Who? of Ferrari – from the designers who helped create the dream to World Champions who realised the dream; from Team Principals who guided the dream to collectors and owners who live the dream; from engineers who maintained the dream to the die-hard fans who love the dream! Included in the artworks are personal comments from past and present Ferrari executives, engineers, team managers and drivers, as well as passionate Ferrari collectors from the world of fashion, music, cooking and F1. Just a few of those who were happy to be involved are Piero Ferrari, Luca di Montezemolo, Nigel Mansell, Fernando Alonso, Mario Andretti, Prince Albert of Monaco, Stefano Domenicalli, Charles Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, Lawrence Stroll, Toto Wolff, Felipe Massa, Murray Walker, Nick Mason, Gordon Ramsay, Tommy Hilfiger and Bernie Ecclestone himself. The comment by Toto Wolff, CEO and Team Principal of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, ‘At the end we are all Ferrari Fans’, perhaps best sums up what all these people feel. www.ferrariinart.com
