This large painting was purchased by a Chicago artist from the Romano Galleries at Tree Studios artist colony, Chicago, in the late 1970’s and is in a private collection in St. Louis with the same owner.  The buyer lived at Tree Studios in studio #22 when it was purchased.  Possibly the world’s first super hero.  The central figure, Captain Electricity, is shown charging the globe with lightening bolts shooting out of his hands as human figures fly around him in unison.  When it was purchased, the seller told the current owner that it was a study for a large mural for the RCA Pavilion for the Century of Progress, 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair.

oil on canvas, 41″ x 70″  signed lower right “LOUIS GRELL 1928”

Private collection St. Louis, previously titled Electricity in early family documents

study; private collection Illinois