Dayton artist’s work hails statehood with view of modern reps

Dayton artist Steven Saylor completed his painting Nine Cheers for the Silver State, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of Nevada’s statehood and features Gov. Brian Sandoval, the state’s two U.S. Senators, Rep. Mark Amodei and others.

The painting will raise funds for the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to the restoration and promotion of the Comstock Historic District. It takes its title from a headline that appeared in the Gold Hill Daily News on Oct. 31, 1864.

The scene is set in the Cobb Mansion in Virginia City. Saylor’s composition depicts the moment when news of statehood reached Virginia City in 1864. Gov. Sandoval is signing a proclamation commemorating Nevada’s admission into the Union, and Mark Amodei is reading an 1864 issue of the Territorial Enterprise, which includes an article on statehood. Also depicted are John Winfield, Corrado De Gasperis, and Ron James, directors of the Comstock Foundation.

The Comstock Foundation will make 150 numbered prints of the painting available for purchase. Each copy will include a one-ounce medallion celebrating the 150th anniversary of statehood, minted from pure Comstock silver from Comstock Mining’s operation. The cost of each print, including a Comstock silver medallion, is $1,150. For an additional $400, the print will be framed and will include a second medallion.

“We anticipate that the effort will raise over $100,000, which is needed to preserve at-risk resources of our National Landmark,” said Corrado De Gasperis, chairman of the board of the Comstock Foundation. “We are so pleased that Comstock Mining is providing pure (.9999) Comstock silver for the minting of the medallion that is being offered with the print. The coin represents the first, pure Comstock silver product being offered by the company and directly benefitting the Foundation, and we are seeing strong demand and deposits and orders for the prints.”

The Comstock Foundation for History and Culture is accepting pre-sale reservations on behalf of the Comstock Foundation. Reserving a numbered print requires a $150 deposit with credit card or check. It is possible to reserve a specific number in the series of 150 prints; specific numbers may not be available. For more information, go to www.ComstockFoundation.org, or call Saylor at 775-742-0588, or Ron James at 775-443-7803.

For information about the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture and its projects, go to www.comstockfoundation.org, or call James.