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.

Andre Durenceau, the French-American illustrator and muralist, mines his Jewish heritage in this symbolist 1950s imagining of the sanctuary of a synagogue. Evoking horror and hope, this severe surrealist image presents a vision of resurrection in the aftermath of World War II. The oil on canvas is technically refined, and filled with historically resonant Judaica imagery from biblical to modern times. This piece, titled Invitation, has both the scope of mural art and the narrative detail of magazine illustration.

Invitation

Artist: Andre Durenceau

A radiant and lushly executed fine art nude oil painting by the well listed female Hungarian artist Maria Szantho, who had a long and decorated career both overseas in Europe and here in the United States. Szantho created three oil paintings depicting her homeland of Hungary for the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. This is among the prettiest examples of her nude portraiture we have seen. Painting is housed in a hand carved basswood gold leafed museum quality frame.

A Reclining Nude

Artist: Maria Szantho

Capturing a festive scene of traditionally garbed Spanish dancers in a spirited plein air fine art painting, this c. 1930 oil on canvas by the listed artist Andrew Dobos embodies the arts & crafts style. Rendered in a flowing and lyrical Southwestern aesthetic, this will accentuate an American bungalow interior. Retains its original handsome American Arts & Crafts aesthetic gold gesso frame.

The Tambourine Dance

Artist: Andrew Dobos

This important and defining oil on canvas portrait features a stylized Mata Hari in the midst of one of her sensual, almost trance-like dances. The highly moody piece is a wonderful example of the 1900-1915 century Spanish modernismo movement by Anselmo Miguel Nieto, one of its brightest talents. This classically inspired yet fully modern painting applies formal chiaroscuro technique (the exaggerated use of light and dark to create a dramatic perspective) to one of the great courtesans of early 20th century Europe to create a sexually and politically subversive yet beautiful work.

Mata Hari

Artist: Anselmo Miguel Nieto

Legendary American pin-up illustrator Earl Moran was one of the first to discover a muse in the iconic Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe. During the late 1940s Monroe famously worked as a pin-up model for the Blue Book agency, posing under her real name of Norma Jeane Dougherty. After Moran transitioned away from the hectic life of a calendar artist to focus on his fine art painting, he revisited Marilyn, who was by then a platinum blonde Hollywood bombshell, through an arrangement with The Aaron Brothers Galleries, Laguna Beach CA.

Marilyn Monroe in the Nude

Artist: Earl Moran

This signed 1936 watercolor by an unidentified artist presents a haunting look at the life of an urban bohemian in Greenwich village New York. Mixing the malaise and grit of Great Depression-era NY with romantic nostalgia for the artist’s communities that flourished during the Ashcan school-period of the early 20th century, this scene presents a view of an artist attempting to find inspiration at the sight of his muse, a sensuously posed nude model, but sinking into debauchery as he cradles a drink in one hand with a tawdry book titled Eros laying on his table. On his wall, unseen by either the artist or model, are his previous creations, including a likeness of the napping dog at his feet. This is an inspired work of urban realism, that dates to the WPA period where unflinching looks at the hidden corners pf life were becoming an increasingly popular topic for the finest American artists.

Eros

Artist: Unknown

Cubist Maidens is a lyrical and poignant original mixed medium fine art painting by the prolific and well remembered science fiction and pulp cover artist Virgil Finlay. Work is signed and dated lower left and again on the verso. Modernist and inventive in style, the work is executed in grease pencil and water color, with a scratchboard technique of cutting back into the drawing used to define the faces. This unusual example deftly shows the technical mastery and imagination of this important American illustrator.

Cubist Maidens

Artist: Virgil Finlay

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, and this painting, titled Spirit of Capri was 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 commissioned mural works for Hollywood landmarks like The Jade and The Masquers Club as well as LaRue’s.

Spirit Of Capri

Artist: Henry Clive

A moving and evocotive, free flowing oil rendering of a Spanish-themed nude senorita by Edmund Ward. Making his first illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post before he was age 20, Ward had a successful career as an illustrator of works that ranged in style and subject matter from dark tonalist in oils to humorous in wash and watercolor. For many years he illustrated the Alexander Botts and Assistant District Attorney Doowinkle stories for the Post.

A Spanish Nude

Artist: Edmund Ward

A large and important exhibited American impressionist oil painting by the Boston artist Arthur Prince Spear, 1879-1959. The painting features an outstanding large ethereal and luminous trio of sea nymphs in silhouette – ablaze at sea under a full moon. This is painted in an impressionist style with a textured heavy impasto technique. Housed in its original carved gold leaf wood frame.

Nets of Silver and Gold

Artist: Arthur Prince Spear

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