Football - Tribute to Ernie Davis Painting

This original oil on stretched canvas painting is a stunning piece is of a vintage football that was inspired by Ernie Davis. It's painted in rich Indian red, blue, green and gold tones from direct observation in a traditional style. It has been photographed in natural light, and adjusted to appear as close as possible to the original. Ernie Davis (December 14, 1939 – May 18, 1963) was an American football running back who became the first African-American player to win the Heisman Trophy. Wearing number 44, Davis competed collegiately for Syracuse University before being drafted by the Washington Redskins then almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns in December 1961. However, he would never play a professional game after developing leukemia in 1962. He is the subject of a Universal Pictures movie biography, The Express, based on the non-fiction book Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, by Robert C. Gallagher.