Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering this portrait of a redheaded young woman called Carol, by the American artist Frank Ryan. The painting is a rather haunting half length portrait and is dedicated by the artist on the back of the canvas and dated 1959. The dedication reads "To Carol, Live Happy with a Happy Portrait, Frank Ryan 1959". The young lady has her red hair in a short bob and is wearing an olive green dress, a very sixties colour, which matches her green eyes.

Frank Ryan was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1920. He studied art at Pratt Institute, New York City. He graduated from college at the beginning of World War II and joined the Army Air Force with the rank of lieutenant. While in training in New Mexico, Frank did several oil painting of western scenes. Serving in France during the war he constructed topographical maps for bombing raids into Germany. In his unit was the actor, Clark Gable, with whom he became friends.

After the war ended, Clark Gable introduced him to Ralph Edwards and he took a job going the scenery for the television show, This is Your Life.

Jackie Gleason's wardrobe mistress asked Frank to do a series of pastel drawings of Gleason in his various comedy characters, which she gave to Gleason as a Christmas persent. Gleason subsequently used these drawings on the opening of each show. Frank also did an oil portrait of 'The Great One' commissioned by Gleason. For a number of years Frank was Jackie Gleason's personal artist receiving a weekly pay cheque to review and approve any art work done by other artists for Gleason.

During this period Frank did a number of oil paintings for other celebrities including Imogene Coco and Nanette Fabray. A picture of Frank Ryan and Nanette Fabray and the portrait he did of her appeared in an issue of Life magazine. Because of all of the paintings Ryan had made of movie and television personalities, Walter Winchel (the Hearst newspaper columnist and radio reporter of the 1940s) frequently mentioned Frank in his columns and called him 'The Actor's Artist'.

When Gleason moved his show to Florida, Frank went with him. when Gleason retired, Frank took a job as department of art chairperson at the famous Nova High School in south Florida. After his retirement from treaching Frank continued his painting, but focused mostly on doing pastel portraits of friends and acquaintances.

He died on December 1st, 1993 in Fort Launderdale, Florida of a heart attack.

There are a few auction listings for his work and a portrait of a man was sold by Sothebys in the US in 1995 for £2,680.

The painting has been newly framed in a 2 3/4" silver and mottled ivory frame. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 23 5/8" x 15 3/4" - 60cm x 40cm

Frame size: 29 1/4" x 21 1/4" - 74.2cm x 54cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. The canvas is clean and taut and there is no craquelure, stretcher marks or damage. The frame is new.