The incomparable LeRoy Neiman laid claim to a persona as big and robust as some of the subjects of his work and was easily the most well-known artist to direct much his of talent to the sporting arena something he did for nearly a half century before his passing in 2012. His frenetic impressionistic style has been employed to good effect in immortalizing the likes of Muhammad Ali Joe DiMaggio Mickey Mantle and countless others most notably in this instance a very young Joe Namath with the New York Jets.

For that rare sports artist whose prints and blustery serigraphs can routinely command thousands of dollars having a chance to bid on original artwork can be a rare event one frequently leading to hammer prices in many multiples of that range. The iconoclast Neiman was first and foremost a New Yorker at heart and thus do so many of his greatest works provide that reverential nod to the athletic titans (in this instance almost literally) who have graced the New York sports landscape in the postwar era. A brash young Joe Namath only recently transplanted from the University of Alabama is portrayed here in his earliest days as the face of an upstart franchise in an even more upstart league.

Neimans unmatched style of vivid pulsating brush strokes works flawlessly here in presenting an NFL Hall of Famer at the dawn of his pro career with great deeds one in particular yet to come. The offered painting was sourced from the family of a former New York Jets owner who likely commissioned the work to commemorate the teams exciting new acquisition. The oil-on-board masterpiece measures to 8-by-15 5/8 inches presented here without incident or difficulty and no noticeable flaws in an attractive museum-quality frame that adds roughly another four inches to its overall dimensions. The artist has signed the canvas at the lower right adding the date 65 only months after Namath was claimed with the 12th pick in the 1965 NFL draft in late November of 1964 and as the first overall pick by the Jets in the rival AFL Draft. This rare and important fully executed original Neiman painting heralds the emergence of a legend and indeed an entire league destined for greatness.