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This A2 Print

Alberto Ascari – Ferrari 500
13th July 1918 to 26th May 1955
Nationality: Italy
Grands Prix: 32
Wins: 13
World Championships: 2 (1952, 53)

Published as a Limited Edition of 500, each print numbered and signed by the artist. Produced on acid-free (museum-quality) water colour paper with a weight of 210 gsm. Size A2 (420mm x 594mm).

Alberto Ascari forged a partnership with Enzo Ferrari, which they exploited in exhilirating style as he won two world titles. Ascari was the darling of Italy, the son of Antonio Ascari (one of Italy's great pre-war drivers) and rated by some as even better than the great Juan Manuel Fangio.

The eerie certainties were that Alberto Ascari died on May 26th, 1955, at the age of 36. Antonio Ascari was also 36 when died, on July 26th, 1925. Both father and son had won thirteen championship Grands Prix. Both were killed four days after surviving serious accidents. Both had crashed fatally at the exit of fast but easy left-hand corners and both left behind a wife and two children.

The Artist – Simon Read

Born in England, February 1964, into an artistic and supportive family, Simon sold his first painting (a D-Type Jaguar) at the age of fifteen. This was swiftly followed by work for numerous car clubs and racing teams, culminating in artwork commissioned by several Formula One Teams and their sponsors.

Simon has mastered diverse media and developed new techniques with Gouache, Water-Colour, Pencil and Indian Inks. After briefly experimenting with airbrushes, he now paints exclusively with fine sable brushes. In addition to racing cars, aviation, and other technical subjects, there is a love of figure drawing that has lead in a variety of directions, including his trademark portrait and car combinations.

Simon lives and works in Adelaide, South Australia.

About Ferrari Legends

Each 'Ferrari Legend' painting features the driver and the significant car.

Both aspects of the work have been researched over a lifetime of passion for the subject.

All of the men who have driven the scarlet racing cars from Maranello have been part of the mythos of Ferrari. Within this elite group of drivers are some of the truly legendary racers. Ferrari has always attracted a special breed of driver. Not simply in terms of wins, or championships, these drivers demonstrated extraordinary commitment, talent and fearless competitiveness that has endeared them to generations of race fans.

Scuderia Ferrari has the longest and most successful sporting tradition of any organisation. The Ferrari Legends paintings illustrate the legendary drivers alongside their most famous cars. Each portrait is a monochrome illustration, within the montage that depicts the Ferrari shield and car. The lack of strong colour in the faces adds greater depth to the composition, while the cars are rendered sharply and thrust forward.

These elements are set against and blended into a dramatic swirling backdrop of colour.

The Original Paintings

Painted in gouache on hot-press, smooth grain water colour paper, the Ferrari Legends paintings illustrate the legendary drivers alongside their most famous cars.