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Original Oil on Canvas by Lawrence Williams

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Original Oil on Canvas by Lawrence Williams
"Ulysses Simpson Grant" signed lower right. Image measures 23 1/2" x 19 1/2" in gold wood frame with linen inset with title plate. Williams, who died in 2003, was considered a master portrait artist and was famous for portraits that caught the spirit of his subjects as well as their likeness. He was particularly known for his portraits of presidents and first ladies. In the fall of 1974, Williams became interested (with the approaching American Bi-Centennial celebration) in painting a series of oil portraits of the Presidents of the United States. These paintings were painted from official photographs Williams obtained from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The 38 original oil portraits of the presidents by Williams were given to the Colorado Department of Education in 1977. After circulating throughout public schools across Colorado, the collection was placed on the third floor rotunda of the state capitol and unveiled as the Gallery of Presidents on Colorado Day, 1982. Over the years, Williams painted 2 additional sets of presidents and first ladies from Washington through Clinton. These are now in various museums and a very few came into the hands of private collectors.