LeRoy Neiman (1921-2012) American, Signed 1972 Artist Proof. Titled "The Captain." Depicts an abstract roguish figure with rapier. Signed in pencil bottom right. "AP" written in pencil bottom left. 

Overall Size: 35 5/8 x 21 5/8 in. 

Sight Size: 28 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. 

Frame Thickness: 1 1/2 in. 

#4583 

LeRoy Neiman was born LeRoy Leslie Runquist was born on June 8, 1921, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His father, a railroad worker, deserted the family when LeRoy was a boy, and he took the Neiman surname of his stepfather. As a teenager he earned money doing illustrations for local grocery stores. After being drafted into the Army in 1942, he served as a cook in the European theater and painted murals on the walls of kitchens and mess halls. Upon leaving the military, he studied briefly at the St. Paul School of Art before enrolling in the Art Institute of Chicago, where, after four years of study, he taught figure drawing and fashion illustration throughout the 1950s. While doing freelance work for the Carson Pirie Scott department store in Chicago he became friends with Hugh Hefner, who commissioned illustrations from him for Playboy for nearly fifty years. He also produced more than 100 paintings and 2 murals for 18 of the Playboy clubs that opened around the world. In 1957 he married Janet Byrne, a student at the Art Institute. Famous for sketching sporting events on live television, including Olympic games, boxing matches, and chess tournaments, he was also memorable for his appearance, sporting an ear-to-ear mustache, stark white suits, flashy hats, and Cuban cigars. He passed away in New York City in 2012.