Fine & Decorative Art

Along with developments in lithography that led many leading talents of the day into careers as illustrators, the 20th century saw innovations in photography, printmaking, and design that revolutionized fine, public, and decorative art. Below, you will see showcased original artworks from the Art Nouveau, American Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, WPA-era and beyond.

A large pastel by Leon Dolice featuring a stark view of an illuminated New York City skyline. Leon Dolice worked for over 60 years painting New York City views borrowing from the French Impressionists and Claude Monet specifically. His countless pastel variations capture his beloved Manhattan in varying lighting and color combinations and pastel configurations. The work highlights the extreme skyscraper forms and machine age industrialism which transformed the New York skyline during the art deco jazz age. A fresh estate find from the Collection of The Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota.

New York City Skyline

Artist: Leon Dolice

A dark and deeply erotic Salmagundi Club Exhibited large oil on canvas by R.K. Ryland titled “Woodland Melodies.” Ryland was a celebrated New York based illustrator and fine artist who worked extensively creating modernist murals and posters for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. A work by Ryland illustrating that fair is on permanent display at the Wolfsonian Museum of Modernism in Miami. A large, defining example of the woodland nymph imagery that captivated 1920’s artists and illustrators.

Woodland Melodies

Artist: Robert Ryland

A whimsical pen and ink drawing by Heinrich Kley depicting a pair of crocodiles holding a tightrope for an art nouveau circus aerialist balancing with umbrella. Titled in the corner by the artist Seiltanz or “Rope Walk.” A fine example of Kley’s dazzling technical skills, work also visits the artist’s penchant for humanizing the animal kingdom. Beautifully framed and matted in a period fine gold gilt plein air aesthetic antique frame.

Rope Walk

Artist: Heinrich Kley

A sensational colorful & brilliantly rendered nude oil painting by Robert McGinnis, who is arguably the most talented living American illustrator. A fetching stylized nude by the iconic illustrator. He is responsible for the creating some of our cultures most ingrained visuals, including movie poster campaigns including the Breakfast at Tiffany’s poster design and hundreds of book covers. A fine original work by a unique and gifted living legend and Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame member.

Erotic Nude in Park

Artist: Robert McGinnis

Grapefruitmoongallery is proud to offer one of 3 original commissioned large circular oil paintings that adorned the restaurant walls of Larue’s a legendary Hollywood, Sunset Blvd. haunt that was owned by gangster character actor Jack LaRue. Henry Clive was a frequent patron and close friend of LaRue, these paintings were purchased directly from the restaurant about 45 years ago by the artist’s son Henry Clive O’Hara. In addition to being a prolific cover illustrator for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly, Clive painted several large risque and attention garnering commisioned mural works for Hollywood landmarks like The Jade and The Masquers Club as well as LaRue’s.

Titled The Girl of the Golden West, the painting is named after and based on a Canco tin illustration Clive created in the 1920s. The work is framed in original round art deco silver & bronze washed wood frame and dedicated To my pal Jack; Henry Clive 1956.

Girl of the Golden West

Artist: Henry Clive

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

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 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

We are pleased to offer this stunning pastel from 1920 by Arthur Spear Prince. A moving and evocotive fantastical work which served as a study for the larger exhibited oil painting titled “Wings of The Morning”. Labeled on verso and marked “Fenway Studios Boston.” This is framed and matted in a beautiful American Arts & Crafts aesthetic period gesso frame. Work is dated and signed lower right.

Wings of The Morning Study

Artist: Arthur Prince Spear

This is a suggestive and subtle 1929 oil on canvas painting featuring a pierrot and ballerina in a quiet ‘behind the curtain’ circus moment. This large scale stylized art deco work is mournful and gay all at once, evoking all of the tensions of jazz age culture. Italian-born Alphonse Palumbo studied in New York at the Art Students League under Louis Mora and Frank DuMond. He exhibited at the Allied Artists of America, the National Academy of Design and the Society of Independent Artists.

Pierrot and Ballerina Art Deco Interior Scene

Artist: Alphonse Palumbo

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