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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Miss Sylvania 1955 Preliminary Sketch

Artist:Gil Elvgren
Date:1955
Medium:Graphite on Vellum Paper
Dimensions:Matted: 28" x 22" – Sight Size: 22" x 16"
Condition:Very Good with Scattered Toning and Some Loss
Original Use:Preliminary Sketch For The Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company
Price: SOLD
Full view
Artist’s signature and handwritten notations
Full matted view
Completed Brown and Bigelow calendar artwork

This is a beautiful, unique, and rare preliminary graphite drawing by Gil Elvgren for a 1955 speciality advertising calendar for Brown & Bigelow’s exclusive “Miss Sylvania” line for Sylvania Electric. The Miss Sylvania account adapted The Great American Pin-Up to middle America’s buttoned up sensibilities. Each year one of the calendar company’s star artists would create a wholesome yet alluring “Miss Sylvania” exclusively for this prestigious advertising campaign. This includes Elvgren’s handwritten notations in the bottom right of the drawing to Clair Fry, the art director at Brown & Bigelow.

For this year, the subject was a glamorous Hollywood style showgirl dancer readying herself for her big moment. Poised on a director’s chair which bears the name of the campaign and holding a vanity mirror, this glamour girl is certainly ready for her close up!

This comes from a collection of Gil Elvgren preliminary graphite drawings we acquired which were found in a house in Sarasota, Florida where the artist once lived. Drawing has been professionally matted and shrink wrapped – ready for framing and display!  Please note, this does feature loss and substantial toning in the paper but it displays well as is and the condition issues are reflected in the bargain price for such a well-realized substantial signed Elvgren preliminary.

Miss Sylvania 1955 Preliminary Sketch

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  SOLD

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: Brown & Bigelow, Calendar, Charcoal, drawing, Gil Elvgren, Miss Sylvania, pin up, Preliminary, Sketch
Added to Gallery: June 15, 2018

 

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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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