Clown Painting on Canvas by Margaret Ray 23"x27.5"

Updated August 22, 2026

Original clown portrait by Margaret Ray of Raleigh, North Carolina, presented in an ornate vintage frame. The painting is accompanied by a 1965 handwritten letter from the artist to the original purchaser. In the letter, Ray explains that she painted the portrait in Sarasota, Florida, in February 1963, using as her subject, a real circus clown who was about 70 years old. She could not recall his name but wrote that the sadness of his life seemed more important than his costume. Signed “Margaret Ray” on the front. The back bears an inscription that appears to read “Don Carlos Leal,” though its meaning is unknown. Framed dimensions are approximately 23" x 27.5". The artist’s original letter is included.

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