Lot 85: Massive 54.5'' x 54.5'' Framed Oil Painting Gifted to Ray Bradbury Who Then Kept It In His Home -- Original Art Inspired by the Event Bradbury Credits With Igniting His Writing Career

Giant work of art custom painted for Ray Bradbury. Oil painting dramatically depicts a scene from Bradbury's childhood that he credits with inspiring him to become a writer, an encounter with a carnival performer named ''Mr. Electrico''. According to Bradbury, when he was a 9 years old, he went to the local carnival where Mr. Electrico, from his electric chair throne, knighted the young Bradbury and commanded him to ''Live forever!'' Bradbury said that he started writing shortly thereafter on a toy typewriter his parents had given him. Painting is done in shades of green on canvas, viscerally communicating what it must have felt like for the young Bradbury to receive such a ''knighthood''. Signed ''Robert A. Marshall / '75,'' at lower right. Upon verso, a lengthy poetic dedication is signed, ''Rick D. Potter''. Measures 48'' x 48''. Framed in a wooden frame to an overall size of 54.5'' x 54.5''. With a COA from the Ray Bradbury estate.