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Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

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Sorry, It's Sold

Handle With Care

Artist:Edward D'Ancona
Date:1950s
Medium:Oil on Stretched Canvas
Dimensions:Sight Size 25" x 37" Framed 28" x 40"
Condition:Excellent
Original Use:Original Calendar Art for the Thos. D Murphy Co.
Price: S O L D
Above: Handle With Care
Above: The artists signature
Above: Detail of “June Cleaver” Look-a-like

A large, colorful, situationally challenged pin-up girl finds herself in a revealing moment deftly rendered by the infamous Edward D’ancona. This painting, entitled Handle With Care was commissioned by The Thos. D. Murphy Calendar Company; Red Oak Iowa and a large original archived published calendar of this image is included in the sale. A scarce surviving original work by this prolific American cheesecake maestro.

Above: Nicely framed in quality gallery frame
Above: Handle with care
Above: Verso notations

A bio with help from The Pin-up Files:

Although D’Ancona was a prolific pin-up artist who produced hundreds of enjoyable images, almost nothing is known about his background. He sometimes signed his paintings with the name “D’Amarie”, but his real name appears on numerous calendar prints published from the mid 1930s through the mid 1950s, and perhaps as late as 1960.
The first company to publish D’Ancona pin-ups, about 1935 to 1937, was Louis F. Dow in St Paul. D’Ancona worked in oil on canvas and his originals from that time usually measured about 30 x 22 inches. His early work is comparable in quality to that of the young Gil Elvgren, who had begun to work for Dow in 1937. Because D’Ancona produced so much work for Dow, one might assume that he was born in Minnesota and lived and worked in the St Paul, Minneapolis area. It is known that he supplied illustrations to the Goes Company in Cincinnati and to several soft-drink firms, which capitalized on his works similarity to the Sundblom/Elvgren style, which was so identified with Coca-Cola.

During the 1940s and 1950s, D’Ancona superb use of primary colours, masterful brushstrokes, and painterly style elevated him to the ranks of the very best artist in pin-up and glamour art. His subject matter at this time resembled Elvgren’s. Both enjoyed painting nudes and both employed situation poses a great deal. D’Ancona also painted a fair amount of evening-gown scenes, as did Elvgren, Frahm and Erbit.

By 1960, D’Ancona had moved into the calendar art field. Instead of doing pin-ups and glamour images, however, he specialized in pictures on the theme of safety in which wholesome policemen helped children across the street in suburban settings that came straight out of Norman Rockwell.

Above: Verso notations
Above: Verso label and original stretchers
Above: Published Calendar with Machine Advertising

Handle With Care

Artist: Edward D'Ancona
Price:  S O L D

Filed Under: Sorry, It's Sold
Tagged With: 1950s, cheesecake, Edward D'Ancona, original calendar art, pin up, stockings, Thomas D. Murphy Calendar Company
Added to Gallery: July 21, 2007

 

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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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