Davis, Perry (American/Pittsburgh, 1923-1988), Rehearsal, 1947, oil on Masonite board, signed lower left, 16.5 x 26.5 inches, in the artist's handpainted frame 22 x 31.5 inches. Exhibited: Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 37th Annual Exhibition, 1947, with original label on the back of the frame. Perry Davis taught painting, drawing, and the history of art at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) from 1946-1955, where one of his students was a young Andy Warhol. According to biographer Blake Gopnik, Perry Davis heavily influenced Andy Warhol's art. More importantly, Davis lived openly as a gay man, helping to make the CIT art department one of the few places in Pittsburgh where queer students and professors could explore their art comfortably. Rehearsal was painted while Warhol was a sophomore or junior at CIT. Warhol famously wanted to be a ballerina and is in the Modern Dance Club photo in one of his CIT yearbooks. Davis had an affinity for Warhol, and it's certainly possible that one of the figures in this painting was at least partially based on the future art superstar. In good condition, with a layer of surface dirt and some small accretions. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .