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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Cosmopolitan Clinch

Artist:Bradshaw Crandell
Date:1942
Medium:Gouache and Pastel on Illustration Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 19 3/4" x 25" Framed 31" x 36"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Cover for Cosmopolitan Magazine - April, 1942
Price: Sold
Full view of pastel cover illustration
Full view of pastel cover illustration

 

The artist's signature lower right
The artist’s signature lower right

 

Cosmopolitan Magazine - April, 1935 included in sale
Cosmopolitan Magazine – April, 1935 included in sale

A stunning, patriotic World War II era pastel by famed American illustrator Bradshaw Crandell. This appeared as the cover of the April, 1942 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. Intriguingly, posed in the Navy uniform was a young Yale Law student and male model named Gerald Ford, who would go on to be the 38th president of the United States. The pretty blonde was frequent Crandell model Phyliss Brown, who was at the time the main squeeze of the future leader of the free world. This surprising bit of history was the subject of attention in a 1978 issue of Newsweek. The clipping is pictured below and included in the sale.

Newsweek Magazine, Newsmaker feature on this pastel  cover Oct. 2, 1978 (included in sale)
Newsweek Magazine, Newsmaker feature on this pastel cover Oct. 2, 1978

 

The young Yale Law School  Connover agency model and future United States President Gerald Ford.
The young Yale Law School student, Connover agency model, and future United States President Gerald Ford.

Bradshaw Crandell (1896-1966) was one of the most famous “pretty girl artists” of his day. The artist possessed an uncanny knack for the ability to merge romance, glamour and sex appeal.

But Crandell rarely contributed a “pure” pin-up. His fame chiefly rests with his twelve years of cover girls (in the 1930s and ’40s) for Cosmopolitan, where he succeeded famed cover-girl specialist Harrison Fisher.

Crandell provided covers for numerous other prestigious magazines, including Redbook, Judge, The Saturday Evening Post and The Ladies’ Home Journal. He also produced movie poster art for Twentieth Century Fox.

Occasionally he did a calendar or took an advertising assignment that fell more squarely in the realm of the pin-up, proving that had he wanted to go head to head with Petty, Vargas and the rest, he would have been held in the same esteem with these artists today. His first cover was for Judge Magazine, in 1921. Others followed for College Humor, American, Ladies’ Home Journal, Motion Picture,The Saturday Evening Post, Collier’s and Redbook. Crandell took over Cosmopolitan covers from Harrison Fisher where his pastels of pretty models and actresses (Carole Lomboard, Bette Davis, Veronica Lake) made him famous. His ad work includes Old Gold Cigarettes (pre-dating Petty), Palmolive, Buick and others. In 2006, he was voted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

Framed and matted view in wide profile original antique frame
Framed and matted view in wide profile original antique frame

 

Detail of clinch pose
Detail of clinch pose

 

Verso view of illustration board
Verso view of illustration board

Cosmopolitan Clinch

Artist: Bradshaw Crandell
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: american, art deco, Bradshaw Crandell, Gerald Ford, Golden Age, magazine cover, original cover art, patriotic, pin up, World War II
Added to Gallery: February 2, 2015

 

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    About Grapefruit Moon Gallery

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery, based in Minneapolis MN, specializes in vintage pin up and original illustration art.  We are the proud home of the Bunny Yeager archives.

    Since 2003, Grapefruit Moon Gallery has been a leading dealer of exclusive original paintings by Gil Elvgren, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Rolf Armstrong and Henry Clive, as well as vintage photographs, prints, and period decorative arts in ceramic and metal.

    All artworks featured are original, accurately represented, and guaranteed to be the work of the named artist.

    Interested buyers may view pieces by appointment and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. [Contact Us]

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