COONEY, GERRY-KEN NORTON ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY IDA LIBBY DENSGROVE (1981)

On May 11, 1981 heavyweight contenders Gerry Cooney and Ken Norton fought at Madison Square Garden in New York. Norton's tendency to fold under the pressure of a big puncher once again came into play as he was knocked out in less than one minute of the first round by the hard hitting Cooney. Offered here is the original artwork of artist Ida Libby Densgrove for WNBC television in 1981 depicting the two fighters squaring off before the fight. Ida Libby Leibovitz was born in Philadelphia, where she later graduated, in 1940, from Moore College of Art and Design. She taught art in the city's public school system until World War II, which she spent touring the United States for the U.S.O., sketching servicemen. A portrait painter away from court, Mrs. Dengrove worked as a courtroom illustrator for NBC-TV from 1973 to 1986. It allowed her to take her sketch pad where cameras were forbidden and capture the proceedings in her own distinctive style. Her pictorial reportage won two Emmy awards. She was cited for her newscast illustrations of the sensational Son of Sam trial of David Berkowitz (1977-78), and again for the Murder at the Met trial (1980-81) of Craig S. Crimmins, the stagehand convicted of slaying a young violinist, Helen Hagnes Mintiks. She sketched the principals in the trial of Jean Harris for the murder of Dr. Herman Tarnower and documented court appearances by John Lennon, Senator Harrison A. Williams Jr., John W. Hinckley Jr., John J. Gotti and Gen. William C. Westmoreland, to name a few. Some of her sketches, meant for television, also turned up on the front pages of newspapers.
This is an original charcoal sketch on paper of the two fighters. Name of artist and date in lower left corner. Vibrant color and beautiful likenesses. No creases or tears. Clipped at upper left corner. Minor edge and corner wear. Quite rare artwork of this significant 20th century artist. 13 3/4" x 17."