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Tom Wilkes Original Concept Artwork for All Things Must Pass

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Tom Wilkes Original Concept Artwork for All Things Must Pass

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Auction Date:2018 Mar 15 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Magnificent original painting by Grammy Award-winning artist Tom Wilkes, accomplished in graphite and watercolor on a 16.25 x 24 sheet of fine art paper, created for a poster to be included in George Harrison’s 1970 triple album All Things Must Pass. The artwork gorgeously depicts a surrealistic and fantastical East Indian landscape with various figures, flora, and fauna segmented into three distinct sections, each featuring an unfinished space with light graphite sketching. Wilkes intended to place photographic images of Harrison in each of these areas and added the pencil designs as reference points for the printer; the upper section was to show Harrison playing guitar in his Friar Park Mansion, the middle was to consist of an up-close profile shot, and the bottom was to depict Harrison surrounded by candlelight in a cavern below the home. The artwork is signed in the lower right corner in black paint, “Wilkes,” and is mounted to a 24.75 x 34 cardstock board, the lower portion of which is signed and inscribed in pencil, “A gift for my brother / Tom Wilkes.” In fine condition.

Wilkes was an influential art director and designer who helped illustrate the age of rock and roll with posters for the Monterey Pop Festival and album covers for the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, and many others. Harrison commissioned Wilkes to design the album package for All Things Must Pass, which resulted in a large hinged box that housed three vinyl discs and a poster. Wilkes spent over 100 hours working on the original poster design, this adventurous and meticulously rendered painting, but later withdrew the artwork when Harrison expressed his concern over his photograph in the sky, floating above everything else, and of the solitary blonde maiden, representing his wife Patti Boyd. The poster that was ultimately included with the packaging featured an image of Harrison standing by windows in his home. An incredibly detailed and museum-quality work of art enhanced by its intimate connection to Harrison’s landmark debut album.