curator

This is a rare American expressionist offering by the “poet of American Indian Painters,” George De Forest Brush. The European trained Brush is best known for his romantic potrayals of Native American life, and his Old Masters inspired portraits of Modern American Madonna and child scenes. The portraits, while they made his name and fortune in the late 19th century, were constraining, and this dark and dramatic symbolist work vividly shows his desire to break free of the stereotype of idealized portrait painter.

A Dark American Madonna

Artist: George De Forest Brush

The Augsbrug Sailors is a dramatic, boldly rendered, surrealist and homoerotic World War II illustration by the renowned illustrator Karl Godwin. Best remembered for his longtime work as artist for Reader’s Digest and calendar illustration, Godwin was a versatile talent, as shown by this unusual, patriotic image of one semi-nude sailor defiantly eyeing the sky as he cares for his wounded brother in arms. Piece comes nicely matted and framed in a fine gold gesso period gallery frame.

The Augsburg Sailors

Artist: Karl Godwin

This is a bright, well-executed, published oil on canvas by “The King of the Pulps” Walter Baumhofer. Originally an interior illustration for The Girl With the Lemon Colored Hair, a short piece of fiction by the infamous author Vina Delmar. This stunning artwork was published in the September 1943 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. A published tear sheet is included with sale.

The Girl with the Lemon Colored Hair

Artist: Walter Baumhofer

Titled at turns “Toast of the Town” and “A Frame Worth PIcturing,” this 1954 Oil on Canvas is Gil Elvgren at his finest. The painting displays Elvgren’s unsurpassed mastery of composition, color, humor, and the female form. Elvgren’s favorite model, Myrna Hansen, is shown cheekily posed in garters, stockings, and heels by an artist’s easel. Scandalously, Hansen modeled for this pin-up while she was the reigning Miss USA. Describing her tenure as Elvgren’s muse, Hansen has said: “I just had to lift my skirt and say, ‘ahh.'”

Toast of The Town

Artist: Gil Elvgren

A crisply rendered Americana themed original commissioned calendar art oil painting, created for a Brown & Bigelow series titled The American Road. Bill Medcalf was the calendar company’s star artist and alongside Norman Rockwell created the enduring Americana view of the slow paced rural life. Through the years, Medcalf continued drawing the same boy, dog, and small town doctor, aging them slowly and gracefully. Calendars featuring the characters are included with sale.

Fishin’ Fever

Artist: William Medcalf

This original 1912 oil on board features actress Constance Collier in her role of Pallas Athene in the Beerbohm Tree production of Ulysses. This stylized art nouveau depiction in the Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic was by the well listed artist Charles Buchel and a similiar illustration of the actress by Buchel hangs in the London V & A museum. Buchel was a prolific versatile artist who depicted Edwardian and Victorian actors and actresses in period stage costumes. He designed numerous theatre programs and period postcards depicting dramatic scenes. Comes ready to hang in a fine period gesso ornate frame.

Constance Collier as Pallas Athene

Artist: Charles Buchel

A rare surviving original advertising illustration by noted American illustrator Jean Oldham. Created in the Americana vein of Leslie Thrasher and Norman Rockwell. This piece was created as exclusive print advertising by Philadelphia Made Hardware. A fresh and new to the market Saint Paul Minnesota estate find. Comes framed in fine newer gallery frame.

Football Interference

Artist: Jean Oldham

This is a finely executed, modernist oil-on-canvas fine art work by the important American bohemian artist, Eric von Schmidt. The painting features a loosely and emotionally presented view of a nude figure-painting art class. The abstracted presentation and languid posture of the nude sitter reflect the objection that the bohemians felt towards the commercialization of art and the body in 1950s American culture. This stunning piece of Americana modern art comes nicely matted and framed and ready to hang.

The Art Class

Artist: Eric Von Schmidt

A large, art deco era, original pastel on illustration board by the well listed and prolific American Illustrator Warde Traver. This is an as of yet unidentified calendar or magazine commission. Image features a proud brightly colored deftly rendered peacock showing his bright plumage. Work is matted and framed in period green painted wood frame.

A Proud Peacock in Pastels

Artist: Warde Traver

A rare surviving other-wordly creation by the elusive artist Arthur Spear Prince, titled Moon Flowers. A large oil on canvas which was exhibited in 1949 at the Pasadena Art Institute. Verso has an earlier Chicago gallery label as well from The House of O’Brien . A masterful American Impressionistic work in soft diffused tones with a balanced serene color palette which is typical of the world that Spear’s inhabitants presided in.

Moon Flowers

Artist: Arthur Prince Spear

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