Merseyside jobseeker uncovers hidden masterpiece at job interview

A Merseyside jobseeker showed how to really impress at interview by uncovering a forgotten masterpiece.

During his interview at arts and cultural centre The Atkinson , Stephen Whittle, from Southport, revealed a strong hunch that one of the gallerys unattributed paintings was in fact by a famous and highly-collectable Futurist painter.

Whittles instinct proved correct and the artwork, which had been in storage since the 1920s, was confirmed as a CRW Nevinson by expert and biographer Michael John Kirk Walsh, associate professor at Nanyang University, Singapore.

Depicting Limehouse docks in East London, the artist revisited the scene five years later to create a famous 1918 version called Southwark (Limehouse).

Conservation work carried out at the National Conservation Centre in Liverpool later revealed the artists signature and also several previous compositions underneath the top layer.

Stephen, who accepted the role of gallery manager, said: I was doing my research before attending an interview at The Atkinson.

When I saw this unattributed image on the BBC Your Paintings website, it was very reminiscent of Nevinson. As soon as I tracked down a picture of the later version, a mezzotint engraving that Nevinson made in 1918, I knew I was right.

I mentioned my supposition at interview, but I dont know if it led to me finally getting the job!

The oil painting was originally from the collections of the Bootle Art Gallery and Museum, which closed in the 1974.

The painting has now been restored and reframed and is the star of a new exhibition at The Atkinson called Rediscoveries. The exhibition showcases treasures from the gallerys collections, some of which havent been seen for the best part of a century.

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Merseyside jobseeker uncovers hidden masterpiece at job interview