(LOT 23)
Mickey Mantle Large Conlonesque 30" x 40" Oil-on-Canvas Painting by Dick Perez PSA/DNA Pre-Certified
When Dick Perez began his "Conlon Collection" journey, he kicked off the project with a larger-than-life facial study of Babe Ruth from Charles Conlon's iconic close-up photos of the 1927 Murderers' Row lineup. Thus set in motion Perez's acclaimed "Faces of Yankee Greatness" series, which next focused on Lou Gehrig (February 2014) and Joe DiMaggio (May 2014). Now, to complete his ambitious vision beyond the Yankee years of Conlon's lifespan, Dick has hand-selected the head shots of Mickey Mantle, that he feels are most Conlonesque in nature, channeling the master photographer's trademark gritty realism, searing intimacy, and stark intensity. This ultra-iconic image of the Mick was made famous as the cover of Sports Illustrated on June 18, 1956, during his pinnacle Triple Crown season.

Little do many realize, it was captured by none other than Hy Peskin (1915-2005)—an extraordinarily gifted and notoriously enigmatic shutterbug who holds the distinction as SI's very first staff photographer and also contributed to LIFE, Look, Collier's and the Saturday Evening Post. According to the New York Times, Peskin's Mantle masterpiece actually dates to May 14, 1955, prior to a 7-6 win against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium, when Mickey went 2-for-4 with a single, triple, walk, run scored, and RBI. Never before in Dick Perez's illustrious career has the Diamond Kingmaker paid homage to Mickey Mantle in such grandiose size, sweeping scope, and exacting detail. Spanning 2-1/2 feet by 3-1/4 feet, the vast portrait is 12 times larger than Mantle's '56 Sports Illustrated issue and—like its "Faces of Yankee Greatness" predecessors—must be seen to be believed.

In typical form, Perez innovatively made the image his own not only through his unique color palette, expert brush strokes and inimitable style, but also by, in his words, "altering the original photo slightly by lowering the shoulders to create a more straight-on look, instead of the hunchback effect that was created by the tight cropping." The result is a timeless Perezian classic. A true one of a kind painting mastered and hand crafted by none other than Legendary Sports Artist Dick Perez. PSA/DNA has Pre-Certified this signature on this original masterpiece painting. An absolute gem to add to your Mickey Mantle collection. Move over Picasso, wall space is needed for this New York Yankee Legendary Baseball Hall Of Famer!

MIN BID $2,500
_