Description
Overview
A monumental two-panel painting by British Pop artist David Oxtoby (b. 1938), titled "Blues Before Sunrise (Ray)" and signed "David J G Oxtoby" in large white script on the reverse. It is one of a pair of Ray Charles portraits from the same series; the other, also offered by Tour World Crafts, is its natural companion. The image shows Ray Charles close up in his trademark sunglasses, head tilted back mid-song with an open, smiling mouth, built from fractured planes of color over a pale ground.
Oxtoby is best known for his expressive portraits of rock, blues and soul musicians. These two works were recovered from long-term storage in the Wilson family holdings in Byron, New York. The reverse is reported to carry an "Oct. 61" date, which is not legible in the photographs, so the exact year should be treated as unconfirmed.
Buy both: the two Ray Charles paintings are listed separately, but purchased together they receive a 25% discount (applied automatically in the cart on tourworldcrafts.com).
Local pickup only, Rochester, NY area. At roughly 74" x 98" this painting cannot be shipped; the buyer will need a van or truck and two people.
Design & Craftsmanship
- Function & Form: A large wall painting of about 74" H x 98" W, made as two side-by-side hardboard panels (a vertical seam runs down the center of the image) mounted on a wooden grid support and fitted with a slim gold-tone metal strip frame.
- Artistry & Ornamentation: Mixed media in soft pastel-like washes and hard-edged cut shapes of teal, cobalt, rose, magenta and black on a white ground, with the dark sunglasses that define Ray Charles picked out in bold outline.
- Structural Base: The reverse shows the hardboard backs on a four-bay wooden frame with original hanging wire. Title and signature are painted in white directly on the hardboard.
Condition Report
- Surface Condition: Heavy surface soiling, scattered dark spotting and water staining concentrated along the lower edge, with rust bleed from mounting hardware at points around the perimeter. A section of the metal frame strip at the upper left is loose and bent away from the panel. Sold as found; no cleaning has been attempted.
- Structural Integrity: The wooden support and panels appear structurally sound. This item is sold "as-is" with all associated patina and wear inherent to its age and history as part of the Craft World Tours Collection.
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