John Seerey-Lester
American, 1946-2020
Open Invitation
Oil on canvas board, signed lower right
A lion wanders into a camp, railroad tracks in the foreground, silver frame with finished corners.

Purchased in 2008 from Call of Africa Galleries, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Bill of sale and correspondence, including the artist's explanation and additional photos of the painting, accompany this lot.
Stretcher: 16 x 20 in. (40.64 x 50.80 cm.), frame: 25 1/2 x 29 1/2 in. (64.77 x 74.93 cm.)
The Wallace Estate: Lee Renfrew Wallace and her husband Mahlon Brookings Wallace III lived an extremely happy and luxurious life filled with world travels, safaris, collecting, and philanthropy. From backgrounds in race-horse breeding and championship cattle ranching, the socialite couple paid homage to the St. Louis area community in a variety of ways.

Mr. Wallace served as Director of Commerce Bank, President of the St. Louis Zoo Friends Board, and was charitable to numerous organizations he believed in. Behind every great man is a better woman, and his wife Lee was renowned for being the glue of the family while she warmly served as Director of Development for local educational institutions and made an impact with her lasting spirit. The couple’s art collection ranges in style and period and spans a broad price-point.