Richard Roundtree Personally Owned Ernie Barnes "In The Beginning" Signed Limited Edition Print #346/750 (Framed) - This print titled "In The Beginning" by Ernie Barnes was personally owned by the late actor Richard Roundtree. A leading 20th century artist well-known for his unique style of movement, Ernie Barnes is the first American professional athlete to become a noted painter. His works are shown, collected and respected internationally. In pop culture Barnes’ artwork appears on music album covers, television and movies, especially his iconic dance hall scene, The Sugar Shack. This print is signed by Barnes and hand titled along with the edition number 346/750. Measurements: 23 x 29 inches (framed). This print hung in the Los Angeles home of Richard Roundtree. Roundtree was familiar with Barnes' football career in the 1960s and learned of his artistic practice when Sammy Davis Jr. and Charlton Heston purchased his works. He discovered that Barnes lived just four blocks away from him in Los Angeles and eventually walked to his home to meet with him. At one time Roundtree's art collection included two original paintings that he purchased directly from Ernie Barnes during that meeting, one of which sold for over $151,000 in 2022. Richard Roundtree was best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and four of its sequels. Considered as "the first Black action hero", Roundtree was credited with having an impact on the rise of African American leading actors in Hollywood projects, thanks to his successful performances in the genre. Over his five decades as an actor, he has appeared in some 160 film and television projects, sharing the screen with actors including Clint Eastwood, Peter O'Toole, Laurence Olivier, Samuel L. Jackson, and Brad Pitt, and received numerous awards, such as an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, a Peabody Award, and a Black Theater Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award. This item comes directly from the Roundtree Trust.