Self-taught, Eric Tucker trained his eye through Saturday pilgrimages to the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery, where he immersed himself in the Pre-Raphaelites and paintings such as Work by Ford Madox Brown, with its sweeping portrayal of British society. These cultural excursions were often followed by less formal pursuits — nights spent at pubs and clubs, often not returning home until the next day. This tension between quiet artistic focus and a more boisterous social life is precisely what makes Tucker’s work so compelling.

This is particularly evident in the present work, not only in its lively portrayal of pub life but also in Tucker’s ability to capture its diverse clientele. The painting closely resembles another work by the artist, City Bar Manchester. The strong similarity of interior features, as seen in our side-by-side comparison, paired with the reference to a ‘City Bar’, strongly suggests that Flat Cap with Lady with Floppy Hat is set within The City pub on Oldham Street, Manchester, one of the few surviving pubs that Tucker frequented. The pub’s original features, such as the slatted wooden bar and red upholstered seating, are still retained today. Through works such as this, Tucker offers a vivid record of the social spaces that shaped his world, capturing both their atmosphere and the everyday lives of those who inhabited them.