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    THE STORY BEHIND THE PORTRAIT POSTER
    "ELVIS, THE WAY HIS MOTHER SAW HIM"
    by Frank F. Szasz © 1982

    NOTE: The portrait artistic research conducted at Graceland reflects the loving influence of Aunt Delta and may not be scientifically correct in all instances. Her love for Elvis shines through the portrait. She did her best to revive Elvis in the bathroom.

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    The Elvis Presley. poster size is 24 inches by 32 3/4 inches. This large format European style print is normally displayed over the fireplace or in another prominent location. The Artist is the famous portrait painter, Frank V. Szasz (1926 - 1995.)

    The world renowned Artist, Frank Szasz was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1926. He worked for the underground during WWII, was conscripted by occupying Soviet troops and placed in a forced-labor camp in the Soviet Union for six years. For extra food rations, Szasz would do sketches of the guards.

    In 1956, he was forced to flee his homeland in the failed Hungarian Revolution. It was a hasty caricature of Stalin that verified his story to a skeptical US Cultural Attache in Austria that won him entry papers to the United States.

    Szasz's early work as a book illustrator in New York attracted a job offer from Hallmark Cards Founder Joyce Hall. Hallmark's home in Kansas City, Missouri became Szasz's home as well. Eventually, Szasz turned back to his first love, portraiture. He painted such notable individuals as US Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon and Ford, Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Queen Noir of Jordan, and on and on.

    During 1972, in Kansas City's art community, Szasz became acquainted with a beautiful young model named Wendy. Wendy, a former participant in the Miss Kansas Pageant, was having the time of her life modeling professionally for Frank V. Szasz and other professional portrait artists whom Frank taught. One day, as it is with the extremely talented, Frank confessed to Wendy that he was bored as he had painted everyone rich and famous that he could think of.. Wendy suggested to Frank that he paint a portrait of Elvis Presley.

    After Graceland granted Artist Frank V. Szasz his commission to paint this portrait of Elvis Presley; he, Wendy Joyce and James T. Yoakum went to Graceland to research the background for the portrait. This research was not absolutely scientifically fact based as much of it was obtained from the fond memories of Elvis' Aunt Delta. Art is beauty and love is beautiful, Aunt Delta made sure that the portrait captured both the beauty of Elvis' youth and the love of his Mother. Frank Sasz brought his considerable talent and mastery of old world techniques to the research of this Elvis portrait to create more than a physical likeness by incorporating into the canvas Frank Sasz's record of his admiration for Elvis as the "King of Rock and Roll" as loved by his Mother. These qualities share with the viewer the personal side of the legendary singer making this portrait unique among the numerous posters of Elvis Presley.

    As Graceland's commission required, the original portrait was on display in Graceland for a period of one year. Currently, Frank Sasz's wife has the original portrait.

    In Frank V. Sasz's agreement with Wendy - Wendy obtained the rights to the 1982 prints. The copyright and printing date is 1982, and the prints which were not given to Memphis dignitaries at the unveiling, have been in storage since 1982.

    Frank Sasz passed in 1995.

    Wendy has the original metal printing plates in her personal possession. She has decided not to print any additional copies. Wendy Joyce, P.O. Box 11134, Kansas City, Kansas 66111-0134, is the authenticator of F. Szasz's name in the lower right hand corner of the image as well as the limited edition of 50 - 24 X 32 3/4 inch prints on French RAG paper. The number of posters originally printed was 7,500 with 15,000 small European desk prints. Wendy's certification of authenticity that Frank V. Szasz painted this portrait is included with each of the 50 limited edition numbered 24 X 32 3/4 inch prints. The limited edition prints are priced at $99.95 each. If you are not satisfied with your print or the certificate of authenticity, return the portrait print and the certificate within 30 days of the sale for a full refund of the sales price. We can not refund postage.

    Please go to www.TaylorMadeEstore.com/Elvis.htm to see a JPEG image of the portrait and obtain ordering information. Thank you.

     

       © 2004 Cecil R. Taylor