17.5" x 24" x 0.75".

Canadian. 1940s. Mr. Appleby graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1929. His first job was in the advertising department of The McColl Frontenac Oil Company. In creating this reverse-on-glass masterpiece, the 23-year-old Mr. Appleby showcases his technical virtuosity and his deep-seated understanding of the art and purpose of sign painting. Appleby's brother Morris once reflected that when customers asked his brother about his level of competence, he pointed to this sign. If the raisonne d’être of the McColl Frontenac Oil Company was to sell gasoline to motorists they certainly had the perfect image. It was an image prompting motorists to jump in their automobiles and head out on the highways which, at the time, were more like Indian footpaths in virgin wilderness than the roads we know today. In having the Warrior point the way, Mr. Appleby has transformed the image of the Indian Warrior from that of a static figure to one of forward motion, like the automobile. The “RED INDIAN” lettering has an American South-West, “Navajo” sensibility, in keeping with the First Nation tradition. McColl Frontenac brochures from this period depict a First Nations Warrior standing erect in front of the nondescript lettering, “Follow the Red Indian Trail”. In this sign, Appleby replaces the nondescript lettering with his own cursive script which wends its way to the profound "RED INDIAN" image. In Appleby's image, the gold leaf lettering and pictorial image of the “RED INDIAN” becomes the focal point. Signed, lower centre.

A tight fracture spans the lower edge extending outward as far as 1.75". There is minor paint loss, particularly in the gold leaf of the word "Trail" and in the lower feathers of the headdress.

Reverse painted on glass.