Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
At the turn of the 20th century, Industrial Revolution inventions brought technological advancements to printmaking that ushered in a Golden Age of American illustration. Publishers and calendar companies developed new techniques for producing multi-color offset lithographs that were fast, affordable, and flat-out glorious to view, blurring the distinction between fine art and "art for commerce." The best examples by the finest commercial illustrators were revered by the public, and today are beloved by collectors.
An exotic Far East-themed interior illustration for the January 30th 1949 edition of Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. Caption reads: ” Queen Supi-Yaw-Lat and her wicked mother prodded the hen-pecked King to torture anyone who might be a rival.” Framed in a gold wood suitable frame as seen.
Artist: Jules Gottlieb
A wonderfully executed interior illustration for a story by Eustace Cockrell titled Compliments of R. Smith. Depicting a Christmas gift given to the gentleman center in the form of a race horse. Caption reads: “He won de second at Sunnyside Downs,” Refugee said ” Merry Christmas, Mr. Willie “. A large crisply-rendered pastel nicely framed and matted in it’s original gesso frame. Retains original Collier’s Magazine verso identification label and a full copy of the published magazine is included in the sale.
Artist: Martha Sawyers
The piece may have been also used as a poster design or perhaps a sheet music cover. As was sometimes the case, this rugged boxer with the large chin featured himself as the model. This is a mixed medium work in that the left side of the detailed map is an actual printed period map that Armstrong adhered to the top of the canvas (he painted in the right area of the map where the text Russia appears). This painting is featured on page 43 of the Michael Wooldridge artist book titled Pin-up Dreams.
Artist: Rolf Armstrong
A rare surviving original cover illustration painting done for a series titled Seven Ages Of Woman for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. This cleverly depicts the lovelorned writing of the preverbial “Dear John” letter only in this case it is “Dear Henry”. Mr Clive had numerous wives and presumably got sent a few of these himself. This image is titled The Break-Age. Marked on verso and signed lower right.
Artist: Henry Clive
A wonderful whimsically-rendered interior illustration for the long running American magazine, Judge. Titled A Dangerous Landing from the early days of aviation and the heroism associated by “those men in their flying machines”. Marked on verso Judge magazine and beautifully-framed in a large, period, fumed oak frame.
Artist: F. Foster Lincoln
A large and spectacular example of Sawyers’ illustrative mastery in specializing in ethnic-based exotic and often at times Far Eastern-inspired action/drama renderings. This image is reproduced in The Illustrator in America by Roger Reed on page 224. Pastel is nicely framed and matted and a complete edition of the Collier’s magazine in which the piece appeared, is included with the sale.
Artist: Martha Sawyers
A charming original oil on canvas by noted Calendar artist Charlotte Becker. Rare, original commissioned calendar art retains verso label with work order instructions, dated with detailed instructions for printing specifics. The calendar company is not identified on label, additionally there is a verso label for Max Rosenstein Art Shop on the backing paper, with a Philadelphia address. This is a very popular enduring image and a rare opportunity to own the original painting. Beautifully framed in its original gesso painted art deco frame.
Artist: Charlotte Becker
An early example of a fine art glamour painting, depicting “Birute”, a 14th century Lithuanian princess. Original commissioned artwork for calendar reproduction by Hoover and Sons. This oil on canvas is reproduced in The Great American Pin-Up (Martignetti and Meisel) on page 25, fig #15. Along with Angelo Asti, Whitroy was a prolific Art Nouveau era Victorian glamour artist.
Artist: Hy Whitroy
A large Victorian era watercolor by famed illustrator Albert Beck Wenzell of Art Nouveau beauties amidst angels. Wenzell is best known for his illustrated book The Passing Show published by Collier’s in 1903. He did mural work for the New Amsterdam Theater in New York City at the turn of the last century and did numerous early 1900’s magazine covers including the December 1906 cover for The Saturday Evening Post.
Artist: Albert Wenzell
Alejandro Serrat Blasco-Ibanez was a 20th century Post-Cubist Master. This piece of work was found after his death entombed in the basement of his parents’ home in Los Angeles. He was the nephew of the famed Vincente Blasco-Ibanez, who was made popular by his novel The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. This stunning gouache painting is a great example of his textural cubist renderings.
Artist: Alejandro Serrat Blasco-Ibanez
