Above: The pastel detail

Above: Framed and matted view

Above: detail of frame

A rare surviving fresh estate find, an original pastel cover done for The American Weekly from a series titled, Visions Of An Artist, circa 1937. This particular series seems to artistically “feminize” natural disasters.

Aptly titled “Menace”, a smoldering volcano erupts as a disruptive woman. Beautifully matted and framed in an expensive gallery frame as seen. This was renamed by the magazine and appeared as a cover under the title “Angry Nature” on Feb 28, 1937. (Thanks Greg).

Above: The artists signature

This was unearthed in California recently and was in the estate of Patricia Lake, the rumored illegitimate daughter of Hearst and his long time mistress and confident, Marion Davies.

This was thought to have been lost in a fire and was stored for years or on display in Hearst’s San Simeon Castle.

Above: Artist’s notations and date on margins of original cover illustration