Joe Greene Autographed 1974 Limited Edition Print from a Merv Corning Painting.
Lot 22. Joe Greene Autographed 1974 Limited Edition Print from a Merv Corning Painting. Only 500 of these prints were issued, including this #6. Greene’s pencil signature below the 15” x 11” print is gem mint 10. The lithograph is professionally matted and framed to 22.5” x 19”. Greene was elected to the College Hall of Fame in 1984, and to the Pro Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1999, “The Sporting News” ranked him 14th on its list of Football’s 100 Greatest Players. In 13 NFL seasons, he was selected for the Pro Bowl 10 times, and named the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969, its Defensive Player of the Year in 1972 and 1974, and its Man of the Year in 1979. Corning is widely recognized for his paintings of football players and old airplanes, but his subjects were far more varied. Andrew Wyeth was his favorite painter, and the realism and detail in Corning’s paintings reflect Wyeth’s influence. His painting of Greene presents a reflective figure, rather than “Mean” Joe, and seems to capture Greene as he has said he would like fans to think of him: “I just want people to remember me as being a good player and not really mean. I want to be remembered for playing 13 years and contributing to four championship teams. I would like to be remembered for maybe setting a standard for others to achieve.” Nm-m print with a strong, unimprovable autograph. Winning Bid $100.
