Here at Grapefruit Moon Gallery, we are always tickled when illustration art shows up on PBS's Antiques Roadshow, the 12-time Emmy nominated standard-bearer that paved the way for Pawn Stars, Storage Locker Wars, and a host of others shows that have gotten Americans searching their attics for dusty treasures. As loyal viewers, we were among the nearly eight million people who tuned in to watch the Roadshow visit Bismarck, North Dakota, and our jaws dropped with the same surprise so often seen on the show when an artwork we've just had the luck to offer for sale appeared on our screens.
Looking at The Devils Punchbowl, Alasdair Nichol described H.J. Ward as "possibly the most sensationalist of all the pulp magazine illustrators," and in a three minute segment discussed the artist, the culture of spicy pulps, and the "red hot" illustration market as a whole. The whole segment is available for viewing and its worth checking out.
In the past, Antiques Roadshow has featured examples of illustrative works by Norman Rockwell, Gil Elvgren and Rolf Armstrong, among others. Their estimates are often conservative, but their enthusiasm is always infectious! We are beyond the moon when illustration art receives such high profile recognition, from our friends at PBS.
