Pin-Up & Glamour Art

Risqué and fetching maidens have always been popular artistic subjects and the perfect vehicle to advertise just about any product, add allure to any magazine, or brighten any calendar. In the 1930s, Rolf Armstrong and Billy Devorss’s Art Deco sophisticates were everyone’s dream girl. During World War II, George Petty and Alberto Vargas created patriotic lithe modernist heartbreakers for the pages of Esquire Magazine to keep servicemen company, and soon there was a calendar girl for every taste--whether you preferred the girl next door or the one from the wrong side of the tracks. In post-war America, the youthful spirit personified by Earl Moran’s cheesecake depictions of Marilyn Monroe reigned, and pin up and glamour art remained unflaggingly popular. Today, original pin up and glamour art is more coveted by collectors than ever, and its influence on contemporary fashion, art, and culture is everywhere.

A dazzling original calendar published oil painting by Henry Clive titled “A Seaside Flirtation” created for the Joseph Hoover Calendar Company. Henry Clive joyously captures the essence of the jazz-age and the roaring 20s modernist flapper girl, this is a grand depiction. From the estate of Charles Martignette, the noted author, historian and collector. This rare surviving painting is lavishly framed, silk matted and ready to enjoy. A 1934 advertising calendar is included in the sale.

A Seaside Flirtation

Artist: Henry Clive

An original pastel, gouache and graphite mixed media pin-up illustration by Frank D’amario. Little has been written about D’amario; we know that he worked for several calendar companies in the 1940s – 50s and was quite prolific producing dozens of published calendar pieces. Over our careers as antique dealers, we have sold prints and calendars of these images but his originals are scarce. He was very adept at these candlelit nudes and now seeing an original work by this artist we are struck by his unique technique and vision.

Pin Up Girl Nude by Candlelight

Artist: Frank D'Amario

A rare surviving gouache painting by Brooklyn, New York pin-up artist and Calendar Illustrator Frank D’amario. Grapefruitmoongallery has sold dozens of this artists published pin-up prints and calendars over the years and recently acquired a pair of his original paintings. This sadly has a faint water tide line and rippling to the paper in the bottom portion. It is certainly acceptable as-is but could perhaps benefit from some careful paper conservation, it is bargain priced accordingly and by all accounts a scarce surviving example of The Great American Pin-up.

The Swimming Hole

Artist: Frank D'Amario

This original oil painting is one of three estate finds by the artist “Eyre” which was possibly a pseudonym for the east coast 1920s – 30s Illustrator Edward Eggleston. Though this example is unsigned, it was undoubtedly created by the same hand as the two signed Eyre pieces, and all three strongly resemble the work of Eggleston, who created several similar flapper girl seaside bathing beauty imagery for Atlantic City travel posters. The “EYRE” signature (visible in the other examples offered by the gallery) is stylistically similar to Eggleston’s signature and the color palette is reminiscent as well. This is a beautiful painting and is framed in an ornate period art deco frame matted behind glass.

Atlantic City Flapper Seaside

Artist: Eyre

A modernist, erotically charged, unconventional pin-up oil on canvas painting by Fritz Willis one of only several of the genre’s later-era stars. The model was the artist’s wife Pat, who frequently appeared in Willis’ work. The artist was unique in that he often painted in an openly erotic rather than coyly suggestive pin-up style, using props like opera gloves or silk stockings to highlight the allure of his models.

Erotic Nude in Opera Gloves

Artist: Fritz Willis

An enchanting watercolor painting by Alex Luders depicting a smoldering nude yet concealed flapper girl in the art deco manner. The detail on this is sensational. The artist Alex Luders did much commercial Hollywood advertising poster art for Fox Films including Shirley Temple and Jack Holt’s starring turn in the 1935 feature film The Littlest Rebel. This is presumed to also be a commissioned work for an as of yet undetermined art deco era movie campaign.

A 1930s Flapper Girl

Artist: Alex Luders

A delightful oil on canvas by Eugenie Wireman likely used by the Curtis Publishing Company as a Christmas magazine cover circa 1910 – 1920. Wireman studied under Howard Pyle and worked as a Brandywine school illustrator creating children’s book illustrations, magazine covers, and advertising art for many Golden Age of Illustration magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post. A delightful view of a young child enjoying the spoils of a bountiful Christmas Morning, with great imagery and antique toy laden fanciful nostalgic appeal.

Christmas Morning

Artist: Eugenie Wireman

A large and radiantly beautiful rare surviving signed F. Earl Christy pastel advertising illustration on canvas for “Parke, Davis & Co. Toilet Articles”. A jazz-age modernist interpretation of an art deco pin-up girl. F. Earl Christy was a prolific early 1900’s illustrator who’s career spanned four decades. We rarely come across his original works this is an estate fresh large and luminous example from his best period nicely framed and properly lined behind glass in a pristine state of original conservation.

Flapper with Bobbed Hair

Artist: Earl Christy

This large, fresh to the market Henry Clive painting was created for the June 20th, 1948 cover of The American Weekly. The work finds the artist portraying Delilah as posed by Earl Carroll showgirl Beryl Wallace in seductive harem girl garb with barber’s shears prominently featured. Clive created a series of these artworks under the title “Enchantresses of the Ages” for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly title where Clive enjoyed a three decade career as cover illustrator.

Enchantresses Of The Ages – Delilah

Artist: Henry Clive

A dazzling 1920s – early 30s art deco illustration painting of a playfully posed young flapper girl in silk nightie and ermine trimmed silk robe, amusing her kitty as was often the scene. Work is stylistically mindful of Edward Eggleston and Gene Pressler who created similar fanciful colorful and ornamental images for calendar companies of the era. It is our belief that this too was a published calendar image. Signed lower right “Eyre”.

Hello Kitty

Artist: Eyre

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