Original 1960 painting "The Green Shirt" by well-known American illustrator and artist, Tomie dePaola (1934-2020).

Oil on masonite. Framed.

Signed & dated, lower right side.

Titled, dated, signed on the reverse, "The Green Shirt - Aug. 1960 - tomie depaola - for Jack Sullivan".

The painting is executed in the mid-century modernist style and depicts a young man (possibly the artist) standing in front of a window with a green shirt displayed. He is holding the shirt dearly in one hand and his other hand is at his heart. This artists early non-illustration paintings are rare.

PAINTING: 12" x 16" (30.5 cm x 41 cm)

FRAME: 18.5" x 22 1/2" (47 cm x 57 cm)

PROVENANCE: South Hampton, NY estate.

NOTES / REFERENCES: Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola was an American artist, writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children's books, such as Strega Nona. Born in Meriden, Connecticut. DePaola was attracted to art at the age of four, and credited his family with encouraging his development as an artist and influencing the themes of his works. After high school, dePaola studied art at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and graduated in 1956 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He was a pupil and lifelong friend of Roger Crossgrove.

DePaola taught art at Newton College of the Sacred Heart outside Boston from 1962 - 1966, then moved to California, where he taught at San Francisco College for Women from 1967 - 1970. He received a Master of Fine Arts degree from California College of Arts and Crafts in 1969 and a doctoral equivalency from Lone Mountain College in San Francisco. DePaola relocated to New England in the 1970s.

DePaola painted many modernist religious murals early in his career.

DePaola was gay. He came out later in his life, telling The New York Times Magazine in 2019 that, for much of his career, "If it became known you were gay, you’d have a big red G on your chest ... and schools wouldn’t buy your books anymore.

DePaola had two exhibitions in 2013 - 2014 at the Colby-Sawyer College. The first, called "Then" showed his early work during his formative years at the Pratt Institute and the influence Fra Angelico, George Roualt and others had on him. The second exhibition was of his later work, called "Now".

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Good overall condition. Chipped corners of the masonite panel slightly visible at the corners of the frame.