This rare, original painting by Henry Clive graced the cover of the October 13, 1946 edition of William Randolph Hearst’s The American Weekly. Clive often played with serialized themes in his work for the magazine, and this Egyptian inspired image was from a series entitled “Pin-up Girls of History.” Pictured as Cleopatra is the lovely Hollywood film star Dorothy Lamour, whose impossibly good looks and exotic features draw a comparison to the legendary queen of the Nile, though the actress never portrayed her in film. In 2013 we had the pleasure of loaning this painting out to the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn, Germany where it was part of an exhibition titled “Cleopatra The Eternal Diva.” Our gallery sold this painting in 2014 and we are delighted to again offer it for sale.

Although Henry Clive enjoyed a three-decade career as a cover artist for The American Weekly, his original paintings are very scarce today as collectors and historians will note.