Above: Full view of pastel

Above: The artist’s signature lower right

Above: The New Movie Magazine – March 1932

Above: Framed and silk matted behind glass in handsome gold gallery frame

A rare original pastel of Jean Harlow commissioned and used as the cover for the March 1932 edition of “The New Movie Magazine” by prolific American illustrator Charles Gates Sheldon. Sheldon was a frequent cover artist for this title and for Photoplay Magazine capturing the allure of the silent and early talkie era female film stars in glamorous stylized pastel portraits taken from photographs he shot himself at his Carnegie Hall, New York City Studio. A coveted example of early tinseltown featuring perhaps the eras brightest and biggest star.

Below are a couple of images of 5″ by 7″ studio photographs Sheldon took of Harlow from this specific studio setting and visit that resulted in this published pastel. These are shown for reference as the photographs were sold prior to our acquiring this pastel.

Above: Jean Harlow as posed for this setting in photo taken by Sheldon at his Carnegie Hall Studio

Above: Another photo of Jean Harlow as posed and photographed by Charles Gates Sheldon

Above: Detail