One of the most anticipated traditions of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is the annual commemorative poster. In recent years this tradition has extended to posters created to honor the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance and Pebble Beach RetroAuto.
“The art of the automobile is at the heart of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance,” said Sandra Button, Chairman of the Concours. “Having renowned artists capture the beauty, performance and excitement of some of the world’s most desirable cars on our posters is another way for enthusiasts around the globe to enjoy ‘The World’s Concours.’ All three posters will be available at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 15.”
The 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance poster is being painted by Harold Cleworth and features one of the world’s most legendary and prized cars — the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza. Designed by Vittorio Jano, the 2.3 liter was Alfa Romeo’s primary racing engine throughout most of the 1930s, and it also powered 188 production road cars. Alfa Romeo’s victory at the 1931 Italian Grand Prix at Monza gave the “Monza” name to the twin-seater GP car — a shortened version of the Spyder.
Cleworth, who began his painting career in England where he produced album covers for the Rolling Stones, The Who and others, has lived in California for a number of years. His paintings have a strong sense of place and often employ dramatic use of open, negative space that adds tension and serenity to his work. A member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS), his work now often features spectacular cars.
The 2010 Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance poster celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. Specifically, the poster will show the ultimate SWB 250, a 1961 SEFAC (as Ferrari’s racing team was then known) competition berlinetta, chassis and engine number 2807. While specifications varied, most SEFAC “Hot Rods” (as the competition berlinettas were popularly named) featured a lighter, more rigid chassis, a Testa Rossa-spec engine and were stripped of road car interior pieces and insulation. These cars were very successful on the race track, including a first in class at Le Mans in 1961.
Capturing the magic of this powerful innovation is British automotive artist Barry Rowe. This is Rowe’s ninth poster for the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance. Rowe has also painted four of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance posters, so he is the Concours’ most commissioned artist. Making distinctive use of light, shadow and movement, Rowe has illustrated the style and beauty of some of the world’s most sought-after classic cars.
Since its inception in 2005, Pebble Beach RetroAuto has become an integral part of Pebble Beach Automotive Week for automobile connoisseurs and collectors seeking historic automobilia, automotive art and the latest luxury goods. The 2010 Pebble Beach RetroAuto poster will feature two Jaguars racing through the Del Monte Forest. Tim Layzell, the artist, has placed the white D-type driven by Pearce W. Woods in the 1956 Pebble Beach Road Race just ahead of the black XK120 driven to victory by Phil Hill in 1950, the first year the races were conducted. The cars are depicted dramatically coming out of a corner and dappled by light and shadow.
For more information, visit www.pebblebeachconcours.net.
[Source: Pebble Beach Concours]
