Mystery Friday Foto #5 Solved: A Mystery Racing Painting of George Robertson in ‘Old 16’
Peter Shriver has challenged you to identify his grandfather George Robertson in a racing painting by Peter Helck.
Identify;
- The painting
The painting is a variation of “Robertson Comes Through” which was nearly identical but had added spectators, grandstands and signs.
- The artist
Famed automotive painter Peter Helck was responsible for this incredible piece of artwork.
- The race, car and driver depicted in the foreground
The painting depicts the 4th Vanderbilt Cup race on October 24, 1908 with 'Old 16', the 1906 Locomobile race car leading and eventually winning the race piloted by George Robertson with Glenn Ethridge as his mechanician.
- The reason this painting was created
In 1944, Helck was commissioned by Esquire magazine for a series of racing paintings.
- Kudos- Link the mystery Foto challenger, Peter Shriver, to the painting
Peter Shriver is George Robertson's Grandson.
Comments (3)
Congrats to Kenneth Parrotte, Steve Lucas and Art Kleiner for identifying the painting and subject. Kudos to Steve and Art for identifying Peter Shriver.
Greg O.
'Robertson Comes Through' by Peter Helck for Esquire Magazine 1944.
However, the 1944 Esquire series was not the initial batch of these paintings.
On October 24, 1938, for the 30th anniversary of of Robertson's 1908 win, Peter Helck gave this painting to George Robertson, the winning driver for the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, as indicated in the lower left section of the painting. (see photo below)
"To George Robertson from peter Helck 10-24-38"
Peter Helck's book, 'The Checkered Flag'.
Comments
“Robertson Comes Through”
Peter Helck
10/24/1908 Fourth Vanderbilt Cup race on Long Island, won by Geroge Robertson
George Robertson
Locomobile “Old 16”
1944 Peter Helck created a series of famous paintings depicting the thrill of auto racing for Esquire Magazine.
This painting was the cover of Peter Helck’s book The Checkered Flag.
The painting’s title is “Robertson Comes Through” by by Peter Helck. It depicts a scene fom the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race with George Robertson driving the “Old 16” Locomobile. Originally commisioned for a 1944 issue of ESQUIRE magazine, it later was used on the dust jacket of Peter Helck’s book “The Checkered Flag”. Peter Shriver is George Robertson’s grandson.
Old 16 winning the 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race
Peter Helck
Old 16, 1908 Vanderbilt Cup Race, George Robertson
Esquire Magazine
Peter is the grandson of George Robertson - thanks for sharing Peter!
notice how the wheels are not round but forward moving ovals due to photographic recognition with slow film.
In this painting the flow and movement of the picture seems to stagnate. The wheels of #18 race car are perfectly round but other versions of this painting notice how the wheels are not round but forward moving ovals due to photographic recognition with slow film. The results is kinetically stimulating.
Thank you all so much! Exciting to read all this. Does anyone know where the original painting dedicated and given to my Grandfather is? Love to see it!