Juan Manuel Fangio, Mercedes-Benz W196, Monza (1954)

Dexter Brown also known as De Bruyne is a British painter who was educated at the Harrow School of Art. He has two ‘painting personalities’; firstly, De Bruyne, the impressionist artist (popular in America) that confines himself to the golden period of motoring up to the Second World War. Secondly, Dexter Brown, the near photographic to abstract artist (popular in England) that focuses on the early days of motoring up to the present time. As an artist he is most well-known for painting celebrities and racing cars with commissions from clients such Ferrari, Mercedes Benz, Rolls-Royce and British Leyland. Brown’s depiction of a Mercedes-Benz W196, driven by the Argentinian Juan Manuel Fangio (1911 - 1995), racing at high speed during the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in 1954 is a perfect example of Brown’s dynamic art. The 80-lap race was won by Fangio after he started from pole position, and Brown has captured Fangio’s speed by diffracting light on the canvas. According to Robert Edwards “Dexter Brown paints light, wherever he finds it.” (Robert Edwards, “The Art of Dexter Brown”, 2001, Haynes Publishing, p.7).