Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

Sorry, It's Sold

Welcome to Grapefruit Moon Gallery. Here you will find an archived visual history of past sales. Pretty to look at, some are quite old; but when they're in here, consider them sold!

A delightful if somewhat macabre and seemingly allegorical take on an interior nude Harem Scene. Eerily rendered grotesques, satyrs, nymphs, and a female nude in the forefront — ravished by age — cavort in a whimsical Middle Eastern aesthetic interior. Painting is unsigned but guaranteed to be an original work by this well-listed and exhibited artist. A fresh estate auction buy, where a large collection of Brown original paintings were sold over a several month period straight from the artist’s descendents’ estate. Beautifully framed in a period, ornate gesso wood frame as seen and mounted on original suede as presented by artist and found.

Art Deco Nude Harem Scene

Artist: Bob Brown

I am proud to offer the original illustration, created in 1952 by T.N. Thompson for The Champion Line. This image turned up for many years and was featured on desk calendars, as well as large hanging calendars with commissioned advertising pads. The early title was: GALS IN GINGHAM SUITED DAD, BLONDES IN LACE FOR THIS LAD. Later when Marilyn Monroe became the international sensation and sexy nude pin-up, this was retitled simply Marilyn for obvious reasons. Double matted and professionally framed in a vintage, gold gesso, wood stepped frame. Includes a letter from Brown & Bigelow expressing this painting’s authenticity, and a copied catalog showing this iconic illustration in various incarnations from Champion Product Lines.

Marilyn Monroe

Artist: T. N. Thompson

This is a rare opportunity to purchase an original Art Deco Era pastel by undoubtably the finest female pin-up illustrator of this Golden Age! This large and breathtaking nude retains its original frame which was also hand-painted by the artist, Mabel Rollins Harris. Harris was a leading illustrator during the 1920’s and 1930’s and did calendar work for Brown & Bigelow and the Thomas D. Murphy Company, of which this is an example. Her original pastels are scarce and seldom come on the market. I just located a published version of this piece it is shown here and included in sale. It is completed artwork and, to these eyes, the finest of Harris’ creations.

Sprite of Springtime

Artist: Mabel Rollins Harris

An exceedingly scarce original oil painting by Henry Clive during his days as illustrator for Flo Ziegfeld & The Ziegfeld Follies. The show girl featured is the enduring silent movie star, Marion Davies. This large oil painting is featured in Charles Martignette & Louis Meisel’s pin-up “bible”, The Great American Pin-Up on page 52. This […]

Ziegfeld Follies Show Girl

Artist: Henry Clive

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.

Marquita Old Song

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.

Enchanters of Famous Men Marie Mancini

Artist: Henry Clive

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.

The Man Behind The Gun

Artist: Rolf Armstrong

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.

Marilyn Monroe as “The Spanish Girl”

Artist: Earl Moran

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.

The Break-age

Artist: Henry Clive

 

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