Jack Johnson

Following the theme and idea that Heavy Weight Boxing may be reaching an End it was only natural to paint legend Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight champion. Making 4 paintings of Johnson to date, and being one of Quigley's favorite fighters and personalities, it was only natural to paint the Champion again for this exhibit.
John Arthur "Jack" Johnson (March 31, 1878 – June 10, 1946), nicknamed the Galveston Giant, was an American boxer, who—at the height of the Jim Crow era—became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion (1908–1915). Johnson went on to become one of the most dominant champions of his time, and remains a significant historical figure in heavyweight boxing history, with his 1910 fight against James J. Jeffries being dubbed the "fight of the century."[4] Johnson was faced with much controversy when he was charged with violating the Mann Act in 1912, even though there was an obvious lack of evidence and the charge was largely racially based. In a documentary about his life, Ken Burns notes that "for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth"The series created for the Montauk Beach House is the first time Quigley has painted boxers in 4 years, only taking rare commissions.

Oil, oil crayon on canvas
30 x 40” Framed by BordersFraming NY
July 2017

SOLD / Karl Hutter Fine Art.
Phil Marber and Siobhan Carty