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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Cee Bee (To Have) – Fascinating Figures

Artist:Gil Elvgren
Date:1953
Medium:OIl on Canvas Board
Dimensions:Sight Size 18" x 27" Framed 22" x 31"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Calendar Art for the Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company
Price: S O L D
Above: The artist’s signature loer right
Above: Detail

This 1953 deliriously sexy nude pin up oil painting by Gil Elvgren for the Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company dates to the artist’s best period. This image was used in a deck of playing cards under the title Cee Bee (To Hold) Fascinating Figures and belonged to the estate of Charles Martignette, co-author of The Great American Pin Up.

Above: Cee Bee (To Hold) as the image appeared for Brown & Bigelow playing cards (included in sale)
Above: Detail
Above: Verso view

Gil Elvgren only painted a handful of nudes, and as a result they are extremely desirable among die-hard Elvgren collectors. Elvgren gifted the painting to silent screen icon Harold Lloyd and personally inscribed the banner to Lloyd, creating an incredible association for this painting. Lloyd was himself a respected pin-up photographer, capturing images of such glamorous icons as Marilyn Monroe and Bettie Page. As Charles Martignette and Louis Meisel note in Gil Elvgren All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups,”Because of Elvgren’s great popularity, Brown and Bigelow often used him for special promotions. Elvgren had the opportunity to meet many people, including a number of celebrities, some of whom became close friends. One such person was film star Harold Lloyd, who, in about 1950, introduced Elvgren to 35mm stereo color photography.” This artwork (as inscribed to Lloyd) is pictured as figure 251 Gil Elvgren All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups.

Painting is handsomely framed in a gold museum quality wide profile gallery frame.

Cee Bee (To Have) – Fascinating Figures

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  S O L D

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, american, Brown & Bigelow, Charles Martignette, Gil Elvgren, Harold Lloyd, nude, original calendar art, pin up, The Golden Gallery
Added to Gallery: October 9, 2012

 

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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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