Now here is a stunning piece that pictures sadly just don't do justice. It is also one of my favorite pieces that I own, which is impressive considering it isn't officially a Batman cover (though clearly should be!)
Charles Roven, president and co-founder of Atlas Entertainment (production credits for The Dark Knight Trilogy, Man of Steel, Batman V Superman, Wonder Woman), commissioned Norm Breyfogle in 2008 to paint this gorgeous image of a grim looking Dark Knight, sitting in his chair (throne?) in the Batcave, with the Bat computers in the background and bats flying overhead. It hung in the offices of Atlas Entertainment from 2008 until I acquired it in 2017.
Though the COA doesn't credit it, it clearly appears to be an homage to a Marc Silvestri image for Batman Black and White. I have attached a line art image I found on the web (but do not own that piece!) of the original it pays homage to. If anyone knows when the original was done by Silvestri and what comic it was originally used in, I would be greatly appreciative (and will update this description accordingly).
This large painting has an image area of approximately 32" wide by 44" tall (and the framing adds nearly 10" to each dimension), and the medium is oil on canvas. In addition to being signed by Norm in the bottom right corner, it is also signed just under Batman by Christopher Nolan (director/screenwriter of The Dark Knight) and Christian Bale (played Batman/Bruce Wayne). Breyfogle's use of oil on canvas gives the Dark Knight an even more grim and menacing look than the original image, and the large size makes it an absolute centerpiece in my room. The rich oil brushstrokes literally pop off the canvas! Breyfogle was an amazing Batman artist with lots of memorable images, and getting a painting by him, much less one this large, is a rarity.
Given the size and the mood of the painting, I wanted it to look like something that would be hanging in a castle. Parker Jordan Fine Art did an incredible job framing this (I pretty much have them frame all of my stuff), and the frame complements the painting perfectly in my opinion.
