Hello.
The painting was done by a volunteer known simply as "Robert M."
As you probably know, within the Alcoholics Anonymous organizatio,
last names are traditionally not used.
See:
"The oil painting, the Man on the Bed, was originally called Came to
Believe. When the book Came to Believe was published in 1973, the
Grapevine editors changed the name of the reproduction to avoid
confusion. It was painted by Robert M. a volunteer illustrator for the
Grapevine, and was first reproduced in the Grapevine as a center
spread in the December 1955 issue. In the same issue was Bill Wilson's
Christmas message of gratitude for the gift of sobriety. The painting
proved so popular that reproductions were made available.
Robert M. presented the painting to Bill in May 1956. Bill wrote him:
"Dear Robert: Beautifully framed, your representation of the Man on
the Bed hangs in my studio at Bedford Hills. It is a wonderful thing
to have; I don't see how it could have been better done. The whole
heart and essence of AA can be seen just by looking at it. ... Please
know that to my great thanks, Lois adds hers. Ever yours, Bill W."
source: AA 2001 General Service Conference Advisory Actions, cached by Google
http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:5d6bOPY58eAJ:www.aa-nia.org/concepts/2001/SummerConcepts.htm+%22came+to+believe%22+%22man+on+the+bed%22+%22Robert+m%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3
" "The Man on the Bed" was originally titled "Came to Believe." The
painting portraying two early members of Alcoholics Anonymous -
carrying the message - was first produced in the AA Grapevine, in
December 1955. It proved so popular
that single reproductions were made available.
The artist, Robert M., gave the painting to Bill W., in May 1950.
Bill had the painting framed and hung in his studio in Bedford Hills,
New York, where it remains today. In 1973, the book "Came to Believe"
was published, and to avoid
confusion, Grapevine editors changed the name of the 'reproduction' to
"The Man on the Bed." Grapevine, May 2003"
http://www.aawadistrict46.org/mt_themanonthebed.html
"The Grapevine center-spread exhibited an oil painting by volunteer
illustrator Robert M. It portrayed a man on a bed being 12th Stepped
by two members. The painting?s original title was Came To Believe. In
1973, when the book Came To Believe was published, the Grapevine
editors changed the name of the reproduction to avoid confusion. The
Man On The Bed would later become one of the most popular images in
the AA Fellowship."
http://www.nnjaa.org/area44/archives-webfacts.htm
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search strategy:
"man on the bed" "Alcholics anonymous"
"man on the bed" "came to believe" "robert m"
I hope this helps. |
