Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
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.
Another newly unearthed cover painting by Henry Clive for The American Weekly Magazine. Titled on verso Marquita Old Song. An exceptionally rendered Spanish senorita as seen, double matted and framed in a beautiful period gesso ornate cornered frame. A recent southern California warehouse find from a space Mr. Clive rented for storage purposes many decades ago.
Artist: Henry Clive
An original mixed medium illustration for the April 4, 1948 cover of The American Weekly Magazine, from the series Enchanters of Famous Men. This is a stylized portrait of Maria Mancini, 1629-1715, as posed by Universal International film star Maria Montez. This was painted over a grey two-toned photostat that served as the base and a guide for the artist. Retains verso identification label by the hand of Henry Clive and artwork is dated on verso. Great gesso vintage frame freshly cleaned and ready to hang in your gallery, museum or house.
Artist: Henry Clive
The legendary pastel by Earl Moran of a young pin-up model soon to become Marilyn Monroe. In 1949 the young, winsome Norma Jean approached the established Earl Moran with dreams of modeling for his portraits. With Moran’s eye for beauty, there was no hesitation and a series of illustrations of Marilyn Monroe were born. This pastel was commissioned Calendar Art for Brown & Bigelow and was originally titled CONSENTIDA( an example appears on their webpage ) and marketed to a Latin audience initially.
Artist: Earl Moran
A rare early example of an Enoch Bolles spicy cover girl; a winsome flapper girl sunning in a sheer bikini. This was used as cover art for a Spicy Pulp publication, most likely Breezy Stories or Stolen Sweets. Like most of Enoch Bolles’ paintings it is unsigned.This is guaranteed to be an original work by this heralded pin-up legend. Call or e-mail for a condition report.
Artist: Enoch Bolles
A rare and large stunning pastel by noted illustrator Adelaide Hiebel. A remarkable composition, in pristine condition, this is a monumental example of American Calendar art and effortlessy illustrates the allure of the Indian Maiden and the Depression era popular culture interest with exotic-themed escapism. This illustration is pictured in the Collectors Press reference book Vintage Illustration on page 200. Interestingly the artists name is misspelled on the pastel as it is on the Gerlach-Barklow Calendar Co art print. This is 100% guaranteed original and vintage and by the hand of Adelaide Hiebel.
Artist: Adelaide Hieibel
A rare original piece of late 1930’s early 1940’s advertising art from Minneapolis, Minnesota, The City of Lakes and its summer Aquatennial celebration. Winsome sailor girl pin-up imagery. This is painted on tin was most likely signage of some type also has pencil notations on verso which would lead one to believe it was a cover for some Aquatennial-related publication . Artwork is unsigned.
Artist: Unknown
A roaring 20’s flapper girl in a tophat tames a pair of tigers with her feminine guiles. Most likely a cover for a spicy pulp or early vaudeville era magazine. Artwork is mindful of similar covers by Earle K . Bergey, Otto Grenier or H.J. Ward. Like much pulp cover art, this work is unsigned.
Artist: Unknown
A fun and decidedly unabashed, sexy pin-up calendar girl by Saint Paul native and Brown and Bigelow illustrator Paul Cernia. Image is titled High Pressure Cooker and labeled on back stretcher. There are numerous overpainted signings of the artists signature as he was seemingly trying to create a stylized version to go with his new found pin-up commissions. Many times these racy images of this era would fade into the canvas and leave nonessential, non-girl details ommitted. It is not clear if this piece is unfinished or completed as intended. Retains what would appear to be original plain handsome wood frame.
Artist: Paul Cernia
A fun, snow-covered portrait cover for assuredly a winter month issue of Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. Labeled by artist’s hand, lower right ACCENT ON SPORTS #2, A SERIES OF OILS BY HENRY CLIVE; SNOW FLIGHT. This piece was found an an abondoned Atlanta, Georgia apartment complex years ago. How it got there is a mystery, to be sure. Nicely framed and double matted in a vintage 1940’s ornate gesso wood gallery frame.
Artist: Henry Clive
The American Weekly series, Visions of an Artist, circa 1937. This was one of several American Weekly series that Clive was commissioned to illustrate. This particular series seems to artistically “feminize” natural disasters. Clive carried the momentum of the torando chaos down to his signature in almost a Salvador Dali fashion.
Artist: Henry Clive
