Description
Preparing to Launch, a painting by Richard L.F. Archer for presentation to President George H.W. Bush at a reunion of the U.S.S. San Jacinto, on May 24, 1991.
This limited edition print is signed by President George H.W. Bush and members of his crew, including: turret gunner Leo W. Nadeau, radioman Joe Reichert, Richard Playstead, John Raquepau, Harold Fuchs, and Charles Peter. Additionally signed by the artist, Richard L.F. Archer. Full piece measures 28″ x 23.5″, blue-gray matte. Mounted to foam board, removed from original frame. Light wear to back panel of foam, one blemish along right side of print, no impact to signatures.
From a signed limited edition 1000 copies, this being number 88. It is unclear how many prints were signed by President Bush, but no other known examples of this work have appeared on the market in the last decade.
From the artist: “In 1991, I became one of the Founding Members of the Quonset Air Museum in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I was commissioned to do a painting of President George HW Bush’s TBM torpedo bomber as it was preparing to take off the deck of the USS San Jacinto. The painting became the centerpiece for presentation to the President at Andrews AFB at the San Jacinto Reunion by Leo Nadeau, the President’s surviving turret gunner. The painting is part of the Presidential Library in Houston.”
