Ali signature canvas
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- Regular price€19,00
The essentials: Ali in a guard on a midnight blue ground, the butterfly and bee line set in fine spaced letters on the left, and his signature reproduced in white below the portrait. 10 sizes from 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in to 110 × 160 cm / 43 × 63 in. Frame sold separately. From €19 to €109 depending on size, free standard shipping.
Three and a half years out of the ring
On 28 April 1967, Muhammad Ali reported to the Houston induction centre and refused to step forward when his name was called, citing his religious convictions and his opposition to the Vietnam war. Within the hour the New York boxing commission took his licence; the other states followed. He was reigning world champion and 25 years old.
He did not box again until October 1970 — three and a half years removed from the middle of a career, between 25 and 28. Sentenced to five years at first instance, he stayed free through the appeals. On 28 June 1971 the Supreme Court overturned the conviction, unanimously among the eight justices who took part. Those are the years that turned his signature into something more than an autograph.
What you see
Portrait format, very dark midnight blue ground, close to black in the corners. The boxer holds the right half, framed from the waist up, fists drawn into a high guard, dark red gloves, bare chested.
The quote is set in fine spaced white capitals, split into two blocks: the first at the top left, the second in the middle of the frame. Below the portrait, the handwritten signature reproduced in white, drawn in a single stroke. From 3 m / 10 ft you read a pale figure on midnight blue; from 1 m / 3 ft the signature and the text separate.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Subject | Muhammad Ali in a guard, quote and reproduced signature |
| Finish | Retouched photograph on a midnight blue ground |
| Dominant colours | Midnight blue, white, skin tones |
| Orientation | Portrait |
| Material | Cotton canvas, high definition digital print |
| Inks | Pigment based, UV resistant |
| Thickness | 3 mm / 0.12 in |
| Canvas delivery | Rolled in a protective tube, no stretcher bars |
| Frame | Frame sold separately |
| Care | Dry microfibre cloth, barely damp cloth if needed |
| Use | Indoor |
| Sizes | 20 × 30, 30 × 45, 40 × 60, 50 × 70, 60 × 90, 70 × 100, 80 × 120, 90 × 130, 100 × 150, 110 × 160 cm (8 × 12 to 43 × 63 in) |
| Price | From €19 to €109 depending on size |
| Shipping | Free standard shipping |
Worth knowing: from 20 × 30 cm / 8 × 12 in on a shelf to 110 × 160 cm / 43 × 63 in holding a wall on its own, the ten sizes cover every placement. The dark ground wants a bright room, or a directed spot, so the portrait does not close up. Frames are sold separately: wooden frame up to 100 cm / 39 in per side, XXL wooden frame from 110 to 200 cm / 43 to 79 in, or aluminium frame in 8 finishes.
A dark ground needs light
Midnight blue absorbs ambient light: in a dim room the portrait closes and only the white signature comes through. Plan for daylight or a directed spot, and allow 50 × 70 cm / 20 × 28 in in an entrance, 90 × 130 cm / 35 × 51 in on a living room span. The size chart by wall type covers the other placements room by room.
You may also like
- Ali butterfly quote canvas — the same quote in landscape format on black, if your wall is wider than it is tall.
- Ali butterfly bee canvas — the same line turned into an image by a painted butterfly and bee, with no text.
- Ali vs Liston 1965 canvas — the 1965 press photograph in black and white, if you want the historical document.
Frequently asked questions
Is the signature genuine?
No, it is reproduced as part of the printed image, not signed by hand. It is printed in white with the same pigment inks as the rest of the canvas, so it will not smudge or fade separately.
Why was Muhammad Ali stripped of his licence?
For refusing induction on 28 April 1967. New York took his licence within the hour and the other states followed. He was out of the ring three and a half years, until the Supreme Court overturned his conviction on 28 June 1971.
What size canvas should I hang above a sofa?
The working rule is about two thirds of the width of the furniture below it, centred 145 cm / 57 in from the floor. Over a 200 cm / 79 in three-seater, that means 80 × 120 cm / 31 × 47 in; over a two-seater, 60 × 90 cm / 24 × 35 in; in a hallway, 30 × 45 cm / 12 × 18 in. The full size chart by wall type is on the Ali vs Liston 1965 page.
What size suits a large wall?
110 × 160 cm / 43 × 63 in, 1.76 m² / 19 sq ft in one piece, or 100 × 150 cm / 39 × 59 in over a three-seater. On a dark ground like this one, size up rather than down: the canvas needs surface for the midnight blue to read as a colour rather than a hole.
Does the canvas come with a frame?
No, the canvas ships on its own, rolled in a protective tube. Frames are sold separately: wooden frame up to 100 cm / 39 in per side, XXL wooden frame from 110 to 200 cm / 43 to 79 in, or aluminium frame in 8 finishes. The wooden kits are 2.5 cm / 1 in thick and come with instructions.
How do I clean a canvas print?
A dry microfibre cloth handles almost everything. For a mark that stays, use a barely damp cloth with no detergent, wiping across the surface. No abrasive sponge, no glass cleaner.
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