Quiz Archive
About Quiz # 165
Quiz # 165 seemed a bit easy in our view. Yet very few instantly recognised the hand of
Peter Helck (AmericanArtArchives) in this preliminary sketch. Robert Rampton of Salt Lake City (USA) was best:"The sketch is a preliminary study by artist Peter Helck for a painting entitled 1905 National Idol. It was one of eight commissioned by Esquire magazine and displayed at Detroit's Golden Jubilee in 1946. I am not sure the sketch depicts a specific touring car or a specific race other than an unknown county fair, but the subject of the painting is Barney Oldfield aboard the famous Peerless Green Dragon speed car. The car following Barney appears to be an air-cooled Franklin. The painting was later reproduced in Helck's 1975 book Great Auto Races." Congratulations Robert! The car depicted is of unknown identity. The race depicted was run probably only in the phantasy of Peter Helck who according to jury member Mark Dawber was present as spectator for the first time one year later at the 1906 VanderBilt Cup.
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Friday, 21 October 2005
