A superlative large format oil painting by the well regarded prolific American Golden Age of Illustration artist Edward Eggleston that appeared in 1933 as a calendar print with the title Hearts Unmasked, and was widely distributed at the same time as a puzzle with the title The Proposal. A romantic fantasy themed offering of a pierrot clown trying to win the hand of a pretty maiden against a cobalt blue magic hour fantasy surround. Eggleston was one of many early 20th century painters that emulated the style of Maxfield Parrish and worked in a similar milieu. His oil paintings are very scarce today only a handful have survived and this is perhaps the nicest example to surface. A period die-cut cardboard sign of the image advertising the Jigsaw Puzzle and a vintage original calendar print are included in the sale.

 

 

 

 

Edward Eggleston was born in 1882 and studied under Harvey Dunn, he was a member of The Society of American Illustrators and enjoyed a long and prolific career creating art deco fantasy themed calendar art for The Thos. D. Murphy Calendar Co, Brown & Bigelow and Joseph Hoover & Sons. He might very well be best remembered today for a series of iconic 1920’s high style art deco Atlantic City travel posters with scenes of colorful inviting flapper girls along the then thriving Jersey seashores.