• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recent Additions
  • The Gallery
    • About
    • Browse by Topic
    • eBay
    • Sorry, It’s Sold
  • Guarantee & Policies
    • Guarantee
    • Shipping & Payment
    • Amazon.com Shipping Information
    • eBay Buyer Protection
  • Contact & Social Media
    • E-mail & Phone
    • eBay
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

  • Gallery Blog
  • Golden Gallery
  • Fine & Decorative
  • Illustration & Advertising
  • Paperback & Pulp
  • Pin-Up & Glamour
Sorry, It's Sold

Snowbound

Artist:Charles Fracé
Date:1950s
Medium:Oil on Illustration Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 8 1/2 " X 12 1/2" Framed 16" X 19 1/4"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Presumably Cover Art For A Paperback Book Title
Price: Sold
Full View
Full View
Framed and matted under glass
Framed and matted under glass

A remarkable and early oil on illustration board painting by the well listed east coast artist Charles Fracé, likely created in the 1950s as a paperback book cover. A desperate, love-struck couple steal an impassioned last moment together as a blizzard rages around them in this tense dramatic and inventive early offering. This is unsigned and comes from a Dover, New Jersey collection from the artist’s estate. Fracé began his career as a freelance illustrator in New York City, he later established himself as one of the nation’s preeminent wildlife illustrators. Painting is guaranteed to be the work of Charles Fracé and a letter of authenticity will accompany the purchase.

Detail
Detail
Verso view before framing
Verso view before framing

Charles Fracé, a wildlife artist whose work was featured in more than 450 exhibitions, was born in 1926 in the small town of Jim Thorpe, in eastern Pennsylvania. He began drawing at five and taught himself to paint when he was fifteen. His self-instructed talent earned him a scholarship to The Philadelphia School of Art where he graduated with honors.

In 1955, Fracé began a professional career as a freelance illustrator in New York City. After struggling to land his first paid artist job, he eventually became one of the nation’s most sought-after illustrators of wildlife.

At the urging of his wife Elke, Fracé took a sabbatical from commercial illustrating in 1972 and began painting for his own enjoyment. He proceeded to paint from memory an American eagle he had observed at Walking Dunes on the coast of Long Island. Unsure that the painting represented how he really felt about wildlife he put the painting into storage in a closet. His wife took the painting to a gallery in Mattituck, NY, seeking a professional opinion and with the urging of the gallery owners left it with them for display. It sold in two hours.
In 1973, he left the world of commercial illustration and concentrated on producing wildlife oil paintings. Also that year he started a business relationship with a publisher of wildlife prints. His first two limited edition print releases sold out shortly after release.

During the next 20 years over 100 of Fracé’s paintings were issued as limited edition prints, making him one of the most successful wildlife artists of all time.

In 1993 the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. hosted a one-man exhibition of his work that featured over 36 of his paintings.

Snowbound

Artist: Charles Fracé
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: Charles Frace, original illustration art, paperback
Added to Gallery: August 20, 2016

 

Contact Grapefruit Moon Gallery



    Primary Sidebar

    Join our mailing list

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery Around the Web

    Facebook
    Instagram
    Pinterest
    Twitter

    Recent Additions

    Nude at Teatime

    Jewel Flowers (With My Fondest)

    Two on a Match

    Footer

    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]

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery on eBay

     

    Grapefruit Moon Gallery on Instagram

    View on Instagram

    Copyright © 2023