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Large original painting by Apollo 12 moonwalker Alan Bean entitled ‘Earth Is Watching,’ accomplished in acrylic on 35.5 x 23.5 sheet of masonite, which is signed in the lower right corner in black paint, “Alan L. Bean, © 1983.” Formerly owned by Apollo 7 LMP Walt Cunningham, the expertly realized painting depicts NASA image ‘AS17-146-22294,’ which was taken by CDR Gene Cernan during the Apollo 17 mission on December 13, 1972. LMP Harrison Schmitt is shown working beside a huge boulder at Station 6 (base of North Massif) during the mission’s third EVA at the Taurus-Littrow landing site, with the front portion of the Lunar Roving Vehicle visible on the left. Framed without glass to an overall size of 40.5 x 28.5; the frame backing bears two affixed caption sheets, one with care and display instructions reads, in part: “This painting is by artist Alan Bean, the fourth man to walk on the moon and the first artist in all of art history to explore another world, return to earth and paint what he experienced there…This painting has been given a final coating of clear acrylic varnish. To clean, simply use clear water and a soft rag. Do not rub excessively, but only enough to remove accumulated dust and dirt. Do not use alcohol, turpentine, or strong cleaners of any type. This painting is copyrighted and all reproduction rights are retained by the artist.”
The second sheet offers a detailed description of the painting: “Astronaut Jack Schmitt is painted as he pauses for a moment in the shadow of a large boulder to put a 500-millimeter telephoto lens on his Hasselblad camera. It may take him a few minutes because it calls for precise manipulation of lens and camera yet Jack must perform the task in relatively clumsy gloves. The gloves make subtle finger motion awkward or impossible.
The telephoto lens was along on Apollo 17 to photograph distant objects or places too far away to travel in the rover during the limited time on the lunar surface. For example, a series of photographs of North Massive where we are now shows that this boulder was originally located 500 meters up to the left but broke and slowly slid down during the last 4 billion years or so — not exactly your typical avalanche.
The tires of the rover are not made of rubber but rather a combination of spring wires woven into tire shape. The TV camera on the rover is being directed from mission control in Houston. It was great for us viewers on Earth but a mixed blessing for Jack. It was about this time that mission control again reminded him to lower his gold visor. Jack felt he was a better geologist when he was looking only through the clear Lexan visor.” In very fine condition. This marvelous painting, an image of which can be viewed on Alan Bean’s personal website, was a prominent feature on the walls of NASA's Kennedy Space Center for 12 consecutive years. While signed lithographs of Bean’s beloved artwork are routinely offered for sale and auction, his original paintings remain exceedingly scarce and nearly exclusively confined to institutions or private ownership.
Provenance: Alan Bean; Walt Cunnigham; Harry Cornfield; present consignor.
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