PITT National Championship
Object number2013.101.1
Artist
Mervin Allen Corning
(1926 - 2006)
Date1996
MediumWatercolor on paper
Credit LineGift of Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
DescriptionRectangular watercolor on heavy weight artist's paper. Depicts a panorama of the inside of a stadium with two male headshots, one Caucasian (John Majors) and one African American (Tony Dorsett,) dominating the center of the composition. At the top in the sky on the left is the year 1976 and on the right is 1996. On either side of the men in the center are six Pitt football players in various athletic poses, some in white jerseys and some in blue jerseys. Also on each side is a football trophy. Text across bottom.Dimensions18 x 32.25 in. (45.7 x 81.9 cm)InscriptionsOn the left side: "UNIVERSITY of PITTSBURGH NATIONAL / PITT 31 - NOTRE DAME 10 PITT 42-GEORGIA TECH 14 PITT 21-TEMPLE 7 PITT 44-DUKE 31 / PITT27-LOUISVILLE 6 PITT 36-MIAMI FL 19 PITT 45-NAVY 0 PITT 23-SYRACUSE 13"
On the right side: " FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 1976 / PITT 37-ARMY 7 PITT 24-WEST VIRGINIA 16 PITT 24-PENN STATE 7 / JANUARY 1 1977 SUGAR BOWL PITT 27 - GEORGIA 3"
Historical NotesMerv Corning drew a picture of a school bus for his mother after his first day of school, inaugurating a long, successful art career. He joined the merchant marines at age 17, then worked as an illustrator and later as an art director for an advertising agency. Some of his early subjects and work were focused on aviation and automobiles. The NFL first hired him in 1966-67, the relationship would last more than 30 years, with Merv contracted as the League's official Super Bowl artist in 1977. He liked to capture the game as it could be seen up close - with realism and some subtle drama.Label TextKnown best for his portraits of NFL players, noted sports artist Merv Corning painted this piece for the 20th anniversary of the University of Pittsburgh's national championship in football. Portraits of Coach Johnny Majors and Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett center the piece.
Related institution
University of Pittsburgh
Related institution
Pittsburgh Panthers
Related person
Anthony Drew Dorsett
(born 1954)
Related person
John Terrill Majors
(1935 - 2020)
Previous owner
Arthur Joseph Rooney Jr.
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Mervin Allen Corning
