This original oil painting "Cow in the Meadow" is attributed to Vincent van Gogh and signed "Vincent" under the signature of Elvis A. Presley. The painting is signed by Elvis A. Presley. The painting with the original frame is for sale. The information cited below will be provided for review along with a complete provenance, scientific and academic research.

Elvis A. Presley signed and dated the painting in 1952, originally intending the painting as a gift for his mother "Gad" and grandmother "Dodger". The family was living in the same home in 1952 which included Vernon, Gladys, Elvis and Minnie Mae Presley. On the reverse of the painting is the priceless dedication to both mother and grandmother from Elvis. The attributed artist, Vincent van Gogh signed and dated the painting. The oil on canvas was painted "69" years prior to Elvis adding his signature.

The number 6 written on the painting by Elvis refers directly to his third single record and the sixth song recorded with Sun Studios label. The song title is "Milk Cow Blues Boogie" written by K. Arnold and recorded by Elvis and the Blue Moon Boys in August 1954.


The painting is of a Holstein dairy cow. The Presley's owned a milk cow at one time. The Van Gogh Museum has authenticated paintings of Holstein cows painted by Vincent van Gogh. The references for the Holstein cow painting are "Lying Cow", The Hague, August 1883 F 1C, JH 389 and "Lying Cow", The Hague, August 1883 F 1B, JH 388. The oil on canvas signed by Elvis was painted in 1883 at The Hague. The location and date are documented in the painting. The ox legs are similar in style to "Cart with Red and White Ox" painted by Van Gogh, July 1884, F 38 and JH 504. Please note the face of man with dark hair covering one eye and smoking a cigarette on the side of the cow on this webpage of "Cow in the Meadow" signed by Elvis. The Van Gogh authenticated painting "Potatoe Planting" F 172, JH 514 is of a red and white ox pulling a plow. On the side of the ox, in the large red spot closest to the rear of the ox is the black outline of a face smoking a cigarette.


Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. confirmed they have no record or examples of Elvis ever painting. However, it is documented that Elvis did sign pictures by other artists.

Bruner, Christo Associates, Inc. nationally recognized forensic document examiners authenticated the handwriting for Elvis A. Presley's signature on the front and the dedication written on the canvas on the reverse. This authentication is based on authentic Elvis A. Presley signatures provided by Graceland and a copy of a letter written by Elvis to President Richard Nixon.

Janet Gwendolyn Smith has declared the painting attributed to Vincent van Gogh. This is based on physical review of the painting and various types of photography including x-ray. The painting is signed by the artist. The date painted is 1883. The location is "The Hague". The location, year painted and artist name is visible within the painting.



Speckin Forensic Laboratories provided ink analysis using microscopy, infrared examination, solvent testing for solubility and colorfast testing. They confirmed no alterations, ink consistent with 1952 and the type of writing instrument used. They discovered the second Elvis #6 written on the face of the painting using infrared examination.

The following is the statement of fact written by the original owner before his death. This transcription omits the owner and witnesses names for privacy. The original owner believed during his lifetime that Elvis A. Presley was the artist. This fact can be verified at the Library of Congress, United States Copyright Office with Registration Number VAU 234 738 of August 14, 1992. Please review Item number 4 which reads Transfer: "Gift from Elvis in mid 50s for picking him up hitchhiking when his car brokedown." Janet Gwendolyn Smith reviewed the painting in January 2005 discovering Elvis A. Presley was not the artist. The painting is signed and dedicated by Elvis A. Presley, but the painting is attributed to the artist Vincent van Gogh.

STATEMENT OF FACT

In 1954, I was driving between Mississippi and Tennessee when I picked up a hitchhiker carrying a guitar case. He had run out of gas and I took him to a gas station. During our ride we had conversation concerning music and he was talking about trying to cut a record. He mentioned he was low on money and asked if I could loan him some for the gas, but also said he didn't know when he would be able to pay it back. Since he seemed to be an honest young man, I gave him $20.00. He took my name and address and I told him he could pay it back whenever he could.

A month later I received a package containing a watch and letter from the hitch-hiker, Elvis Presley, thanking me for helping and said he'd like me to have a painting he had painted for his mother and grandmother while he was in high school, neither could agree who would keep painting, to avoid problems the painting was stored with a family friend. Elvis then gave me directions to a house where the painting was being kept. Elvis called me a couple of months later to see if I had found the painting. I hadn't been able to find the house, so he again gave me directions, but I still could not find the house.

Elvis called again a couple months later and this time he told me to look up an elderly friend and take him with me to where the painting was being kept. I did, after a long search we found the painting under the old house. It was wrapped in old feed sacks and the frame was full of wormholes.

In September 1960, Elvis called me again asking me to come to Nevada and bring the painting so he could use it to secure a $6,000,000 plus loan. I agreed and Elvis assured me I would get the painting back. It was some thirty (30) years later that the painting was returned to me by a Mr. Mayhew, as my name and address was stapled on back.

I feel it is time to show Elvis fans, that Elvis was a fine young artist as well as entertainer.

Signed by the original owner.
Witness #1
Witness #2


Transcribed by Janet Gwendolyn Smith, Art Historian from original owner's statement of fact. The owner's statement was made before his death. The original owner always thought Elvis painted the picture. Then in 2005 the painting was reviewed and additional scientific review was completed. For the record: Janet Gwendolyn Smith is not related to Elvis or the Smith family related to Elvis.

The original owner before his death filed Form VA with the United States Copyright Office and The Library of Congress. The registration number is VAU 234 738, filed on August 14, 1992. Item #4 Copyright Claimants is the deceased owners statement "Gift from Elvis in mid 50s for picking him up hitchhiking when his car brokedown." The date of creation in Item #3 a) is 1952. The original owner believed Elvis A. Presley painted the picture because Elvis signed the painting. During his lifetime the original owner had no knowledge of Vincent van Gogh as the attributed artist.
All images are copyright by the owner. Any reproduction of the images in any form or format is violation of the owner's copyright. The text written and transcribed above is copyright protected by Janet Gwendolyn Smith Art with the permission of the owner.