Automotive Fine Arts Society to display at the Pebble Beach ...

Images courtesy AFAS

Fans of top-quality automotive artwork the world over have the Automotive Fine Arts Society to thank for legitimizing the automobile as a proper?subject for fine art. Few places in the world celebrate the automobile as art better than the Pebble Beach Concours d?Elegance, held every August in Pebble Beach, California.

Following previous practice, AFAS artists have created the offical posters for the Pebble Beach Concours d?Elegance and the Pebble Beach Tour d?Elegance and will, for the 27th year, display their paintings and sculptures and other works of automotive-inspired art at the concours on August 19.

AFAS member Charles Maher will debut his new piece, From the Valley of the Kings, above, at?the concours. A 30- x 71-inch acrylic triptych on canvas, From the Valley of the Kings features a 1938 Mercedes-Benz Autobahn Kurier, which was built on a 540K supercharged chassis in the Sindelfingen, Germany,?coachbuilding facility. As the last of only six made, the car enjoyed an extended tour from Spain through North Africa, crossing Libya and into Egypt. The Mercedes was then shipped from Alexandria to Barcelona and was extensively driven through Austria and Switzerland.

?The Pebble Beach Concours d?Elegance is an event that exudes excellence,? Maher said. ?It was fitting to create a work of art that embodied the same spirit. With its fascinating, globe-trotting story, the extremely rare 1938 Mercedes Benz Autobahn Kurier is an automobile that Pebble Beach Concours patrons will enjoy seeing on canvas.?

The title of the piece is inspired by the car?s time in Egypt. The background evokes Maxfield Parrish?s influence with an Austrian-Swiss Alps setting, tying together crucial moments in this vehicle?s history.

Maher?s works can also be seen at this year?s?Concours d?Elegance at Ault Park, where he will be the featured artist. He will also exhibit at the Keeneland Concours d?Elegance in Lexington, Kentucky, the Concours d?Elegance of America at St. John?s in Plymouth, Michigan, and the Glenmoor Gathering in Canton, Ohio.

Barry Rowe?s atmospheric Bugatti period piece will be showcased during the Tour d?Elegance.

Jay Koka?s dynamic Ferrari?painting will be one of those pieces displayed at the concours.

time 100 bob beckel anna paquin warren buffett 2012 nfl schedule dishonored april 18