A darling and very Art Deco in aesthetic portrait of Sue Carol, the silent and early talkie era Hollywood film star. We do not have the specific usage of this oil on masonite painting but it was likely created as a cover for a late 1920s Hollywood Movie Magazine by the artist, who worked prolifically for a number of titles during the period.

Above: Verso view of board before framing

The china doll imagery was one which Clive favored, it appears several times in the covers he created for Smart Set, a jazz-age late 1920s magazine title that competed with College Humor for the young and stylish set. It’s influence was not lost on the always stylish Louise Brooks seen below browsing the latest issue.

Painting is signed lower right and handsomely framed and silk matted in a period wide profile antique frame behind glass.

Henry Clive is among our very favorite illustrators, he was in demand as a cover artist for several early Hollywood Magazine titles in the 1920s, and created a few freelance pin up illustrations for various calendar companies before settling into a three decade long career creating covers for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. He also worked for Paramount Films during the mid 1920s and created lusty murals for Los Angeles area nightclubs and fraternal organizations during the Hollywood, tinsel-town years of the 1930s.

 

Please note, we had mis-identified the subject of this illustration as Mary Brian for years, but recently a client showed us the error of our ways. Thanks to all the collectors and passionate fans of old Hollywood who teach us something new every day!