The Gunfighter by S. Clay Wilson

It was in the early 60’s that the young artist did a series of oils (about five that I can tell) for family and friends as his first paid works. Cowboys and pirates were among his favorite topics, probably stemming from pulp novels of the period (as most seem to have quite descriptive titles). The person I purchased this from said it hung in a thirties train car diner that was a record store in New Brunswick N.J. for years. He tried to buy it several times over a fifteen year period to no avail. Then one day the bar owner “a terrible dope fiend”, according to the seller, was arrested on drugs and weapons charges. When the store contents were sold at auction, he finally purchased the painting! It is signed S. Clay Wilson, dated 1963, and entitled Booth Tanner, Gunfighter