Lot 94: Fantasy Artist William Stout Original Painting of a Dragon -- Commissioned for Ray Bradbury's ''Dinosaur Tales'' & Gifted to the Author

William Stout original painting gifted to Ray Bradbury after the artist was commissioned to illustrate a scene for Bradbury's 1983 collection of short stories, ''Dinosaur Tales''. Composed in casein on board, painting is titled ''Ice Dragon'' and depicts a dragon with round, blank white eyes in a greenish-blue cavern filled with crystals, stalagmites and stalactites. Inscribed in pencil along mat below image, ''To my dear friend Ray Bradbury--I am honored by your appreciation of my work! / William Stout 2002''. Also signed on painting itself, ''c 2001 Wm Stout'' at lower right. With ''Ch. 15 / p.98 / 'the Dragon turned...''' handwritten to verso. Measures 15'' x 20''. Foxing and pencil mark to mat, else near fine. With a COA from the estate of Ray Bradbury.