Kreindler's Mathewson

[thekingofclout]

Originally Posted by jacksons

Hey Graig - yes, looks to be a home uniform from 1912:

http://exhibits.baseballhalloffame.o...ar&increment=9

As far as the stampings go, tough to tell. Not sure what "Filed before 1919" means on it's reverse. But it looks to have "been around the block" a few times after 1919 based on the later stampings.

Someone is going to win a great photo. Whether it's a true Type 1 remains to be seen. I'd rather have your painting

You're spot-on Gerry. I just got off the phone with Henry who is there. The Matty photo is certainly a true TYPE I. Lots of wear & tear but good luck finding another Best, Jimmy

[JasonL]

with the Matty. It is a very compelling representation of a ballplayer, not just an ordinary person.

I checked out your website, but didn't see it up there...was this Matty shared here a commissioned piece? and do you not show your commissioned works on your site? maybe I just missed it.

Do you offer limited editions or reproductions of your originals through any distribution channels of any sort?
Would love to know more if you do. I could see being very interested in repros of at least a handful of the pieces you feature on your website, and I am sure I'm not alone.

Absolutely fantastic work.

[GKreindler]

Jason,

Thank you so much for the kind words, I really appreciate them!

The Matty isn't up on the website yet, as I haven't been able to get it updated. Normally, I have a friend who handles all of that for me, but he's been super busy as of late. Actually, I've just started teaching myself how to do eveything without his help, so hopefully soon, the site will get fixed. Aside from the Matty, I actually have about 5-6 other paintings that need to go up on there.

In regards to prints, as of right now, I don't have any plans to go that route. My agent and I have weighed the pros and cons of the whole idea for almost two years now, and I think in the end, we'd just like to stick with originals. I remember when I was at the National this summer, I went to a booth that had lithos of artists like Bill Purdom, Stephen Holland, and others. I think it was called 'Art of the Stars' or something like that. Anywho, the owner of the booth/company was trying his best to reel me into his cavalcade of stars, and I just got really turned off to the whole idea. Maybe he was just really sleazy. For whatever reason, I just felt like if I was doing the same thing, my name and work would be lost in the shuffle, and it would just be another product for them to sell, if that makes any sense. I just really liked the idea of collectors having original, one-of-a-kind paintings, that would never be reproduced or done again.

At the same time, to sell lithos and prints of this kind of stuff artwork legally, it would require a large amount of legal red tape to jump over with all of the intellectual property issues and what not. MLB, MLBPA, the estates of the dead players and plenty of other people would need to be paid in order to for me not to worry about anything going wrong with a lawsuit.

Of course, if anything changes, I'll certainly let you and other members know the moment it happens.

Thanks again,

Graig

[perezfan]

Graig... I really admire your philosophy (almost as much as your artwork!)

Your work is truly special, and that type of mass-production would perhaps take away some of the magic and allure. I just walk by those types of booths at the National, as the artwork all starts to look similar and somehow "cheapened".

So I know where you are coming from.... especially with regard to the "sleazy" factor. There are waaaay too many of those dealer types in this hobby (ranking right up there with used car salesmen...)

Please be sure to post when your site is updated!

[jacksons]

I believe the original photograph was taken in 1911, based on Okkonen's work and the ballpark ads.

Some don't agree...

FYI... from a 2007 Legendary auction:

http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...x?lotid=75975#

This would have been the season when Matty finally lost the magic, dropping to eight wins this year after 12 straight seasons as a 20-game winner. "Big Six" was still a very dangerous hurler at this stage, but after this season he was no longer the man McGraw had always relied on the most. A bit of the frustration that Mathewson must have been feeling at this point seems to come through in the stern set of his jaw and the look in his eye. The one thing we are having a bit of trouble with in this photo is the cap, which appears to be from the 1911 season, while all of the other uniform details match those of uniforms worn in 1915. (Only the bill of the cap was dark for 1915.) Perhaps Matty was trying to bring the magic back, wearing one of the caps from his salad days for luck. In any regard, this outstanding original Conlon photo is one that all Matty fans want to own. It remains in exceptional EX/MT condition, with only the most minor of surface faults. The iconic photograph comes to us from a consignor who has had direct access to the Mathewson estate and who confirms its origin with Christy's wife, Jane Mathewson.