Spirit of Roy and Roy

1973

John Wilson

Associated Names
John Wilson

Artist, American, 1922 - 2015

The image depicts two figures. One figure is fully colored and detailed, with a focus on the lower body and midsection. This person stands with hands on hips, has medium-length curly dark hair, and wears a yellow shirt, black vest, green cargo pants, and black boots. They have a pendant around their neck. The other figure in the background is a sketched outline of a person with an eagle perched on their outstretched arm. The background shows a vibrant cityscape with buildings and streets, drawn in shades of yellow and orange, from a high vantage point. The drawing style blends colored and sketched elements.

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G26

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    colored crayon and charcoal on two sheets of paper

  • Credit Line

    Avalon Fund and Gift of the family of John Wilson in honor of Shelley Langdale

  • Dimensions

    sheet (each): 195.9 × 108.27 cm (77 1/8 × 42 5/8 in.)
    framed (each): 195.9 × 108.27 × 2.86 cm (77 1/8 × 42 5/8 × 1 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2022.27.4.a-b

  • Series Title

    Young Americans

  • Copyright

    © The Estate of John Wilson

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Estate of the artist; purchased by NGA, 2022

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1975

  • Jubilee: Afro-American Artists on Afro-America, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in cooperation with the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, 1975-1976.

1976

  • Boston Visual Artists' Union Group Show, Government Center, Boston, 1976.

2015

  • John Wilson: The Young Americans, Martha Richardson Fine Art, Boston, 2015.

2026

  • Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2025-2026: fig. 115, repro.

Bibliography

2025

  • Farrell, Jennifer, King-Hammond, Leslie, Murphy, Patrick, and Saywell, Edward. John Wilson: Witnessing Humanity. Exh. cat. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2025-2026: 143, 149, 158, fig. 115.

Inscriptions

a) "Wilson 1973" lower left composition.
b) "Wilson 1973" lower right composition.

Markings

(unknown/not visible; object is framed)

Watermarks

(unknown/not visible; object is framed)

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