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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Wish You Were Here

Artist:Edward Runci
Date:1947
Medium:Oil on Stretched Canvas
Dimensions:22" x 28" Framed 30" x 36"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Pin-Up Art for the Shaw-Barton Calendar Company
Price: Sold
Full view
Full view
The artist's signature lower right
The artist’s signature, lower right
Detail
Detail

This playfully spirited and sexy original oil on canvas pin-up painting by Edward Runci was published by the Shaw-Barton Calendar Company in 1947 with the title “Wish You Were Here.” The artist was an outstanding painter of pin-ups during the 1940s and 50s whose smooth style was much admired by his contemporaries. Unlike the majority of other commercial artists who came out of the Sundblom School, Runci applied his paint in thin flat brush strokes that created a soft focus almost photo-realist effect. In this early offering by the artist, a lingerie-clad young redhead pulls a box of stationary out to write a flirtatious note to her faraway beau (likely still stationed overseas in the immediate aftermath of World War II).

From the collection of Charles Martignette, painting was reproduced as figure 631 in The Great American Pin-Up by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel (Taschen, 1996), and also appears as a full color plate illustration on page 4 in The Pin-Up Poster Book — The Edward Runci Collection, by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel (Collectors Press, 1997).

Verso view of back original stretcher bars and canvas, showing Louis K. Meisel Gallery stamp.
Verso view of back original stretcher bars and canvas, showing Louis K. Meisel Gallery stamp.

Original pin-up paintings by the artist Edward Runci are very rare and most were owned by Louis Meisel and Charles Martignette. For comparison purposes – in 2013 the painting below, published in 1950 with the title “Scenic Shorelines” sold at auction for a commanding $62,500.00!

Scenic Shorelines, C. 1950 sold for $62,500.00
Scenic Shorelines, C. 1950 sold for $62,500.00

Wish You Were Here

Artist: Edward Runci
Price:  Sold

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1940s, Charles Martignette, Edward Runci, erotic, glamour, Golden Age, original calendar art, original illustration art, pin up, risque, The Golden Gallery
Added to Gallery: September 6, 2016

 

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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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