Artist: James Fiorentino
Title: Yankee Captain (Derek Jeter)
Year created: 2008
Medium: Lithograph on Heavy Paper
Edition: 340/500 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition
Height (inches): 26-3/8
Width (inches): 22-3/8
Depth (inches): 1
Signed by the artist
Signed Area: front
This piece is framed.
Includes a certificate of authenticity.
Description of piece:
James Fiorentino's limited edition Derek Jeter 'Yankee Captain' lithograph is hand-signed, titled and numbered by the artist in bold black ink.
Numbered 340 from an edition of 500, the beautifully-composed artwork captures Derek Jeter in mid-swing, against the tawny backdrop of the baseball diamond.
Measuring 26-3/8" in height x 22-3/8" width x 1" depth in its custom black frame with elegant 3-level detailing, and double mat in ivory and black, the artwork comes ready for display.
Artist bio:
James Fiorentino’s artwork has been compared to that of Norman Rockwell, and, recognized as an artistic prodigy at a young age, Fiorentino was the youngest artist to be featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for his likeness of Reggie Jackson, which hung beside the paintings of Norman Rockwell and Andy Warhol. His painting commemorating Roberto Clemente remains in the museum as a part of their permanent collection.
Best known for his work capturing the likenesses of athletes, politicians, and other personages, his work has been commissioned by corporations, galleries, museums, politicians, athletes, and entertainment personalities. Fiorentino has met with (and painted!) Yogi Berra, Cal Ripken Jr., Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Muhammed Ali, Congressman John Lewis, Buzz Aldrin, President Gorbahev, Desmond Tutu and hundreds of contemporary athletes.
Fiorentino is considered one of the most renowned sports artists in the country. His skill embodies a compelling sense of realism. The remarkable, realistic qualities with which his paintings are infused evoke a great deal of emotion. James' theme in every painting is the image of the human spirit. James indicates that being an artist comes naturally for him; it is as much as an act of will as it is the product of inspiration.
"I don't concentrate too much on painting a flawless image. I let my eyes and hands do the work. Just as a poet expresses himself through words, I express myself through paint. I feel fortunate to be able to use my art as a means of communication."
James' watercolor paintings speak more eloquently than photographs. Each painting emanates detail and realistic imagery; unlike many watercolor painters, James stresses the fluidity of the medium while using an almost dry brush. This allows him to focus on such minute detail, giving his paintings a level of definition and detail like that of a Renaissance tempera painter. James uses a technique autonomous from traditional watercolor and a style developed on his own. In viewing his diverse collection of portraits and sports paintings, one feels as if he or she has stepped into the action of a live sports arena.
James Fiorentino’s lithographs are part of the permanent collection in the United States Sports Academy Museum, and his work has been widely exhibited including at the National Basketball Hall of Fame, The National Museum of Art & Sport (NAMOS), Drew University Hall of Fame, Missouri University Football Hall of Fame, National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF), President George Bush Presidential Library, Cycling Hall of Fame, Roberto Clemente Museum, and The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center. The San Diego Museum of Natural History, The Bennington Museum, The Hiram Blauvelt Museum, The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Muhammed Ali Learning Center, The Negro League Museum and the Ted Williams Museum.
Includes a certificate of authenticity.