Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
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!
This is a touching, inscribed presentation drawing from Zeigfeld Follies illustrator, Henry Clive, to Alfred Cheney Johnston, the legendary long time Follies photographer. Johnston was a leading 1920’s movie and performist portrait photographer. I have several vintage 1920’s examples of his photography currently listed in the Photographs and Prints category on this site.
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
The finest surviving Henry Clive cover illustration from his 20+ years creating for The American Weekly. This painting was from a series done in 1934 titled, Darlings of the Poets. In this series, Clive illustrated the inspirations for leading poets and writers. This particular oil on canvas was the inspiration behind The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. It is matted to museum quality and framed in an amazing ornate art deco silver gesso frame. Seven American Weekly issues with the complete run of the Darlings of the Poets series are included.
Artist: Henry Clive
Rare, original cover-art for a 1950 Line-Up Detective Cases pulp magazine, illustrating the interior story: I am a $100 a Night Call Girl! This is a genre defining example of 1950’s pulp bad girl cover-art and like much pulp art, it is unsigned but came directly from the Dodd estate.
Artist: Howell Dodd
A rare original pastel portrait of Mary Wesson, the silent movie star and of Smith & Wesson Family fame, by Charles Sheldon. The pastel comes with the original photograph taken by Sheldon of his posed model. This image captures the carnival like atmosphere of the jazz age. Framed in a period 1920’s gesso wooden “step-frame”.
Artist: Charles Sheldon
A haunting original oil painting inspired by The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam by noted illustrator and fine artist, Charles Allan Winter. Included with this painting, is a delightful February 1923 issue of Shadowland Magazine-Expressing the Arts. This artist’s work is featured in a full page color plate on page 9 of this publication.
Artist: Charles Winter
Wonderfully-executed, humorous, situational pin-up pastel of a sexy, nude redhead caught “red handed” basking in the rays of a “modern” sun lamp. This was given to a Brown & Bigelow retiree and has never before been on market! This pastel personifies American Pin-Up Art. The artwork retains the original period frame this is the February month calendar girl for the 12-page Brown And Bigelow Earl Moran pin-up calendar titled, Nifty Numbers. Included is a near mint condition Brown and Bigelow mutoscope vintage card with the artwork as seen.
Artist: Earl Moran
Wonderfully executed original oil painting from Henry Clive’s long stint as head illustrator for The American Weekly. Painting is beautifully framed under an archival quality double matt in a stunning antiqued, faux finished $700 frame. The piece is in perfect condition, and comes with the original published newsprint cover.
Artist: Henry Clive
An original stylized art deco illustration from the 1930’s for a perfume company . A fresh estate find artist, signed lower right and labeled on verso with company label as seen.
Artist: Harry Bailey
The only known original poster art work from Henry Clive’s tenure as illustrator for Paramount Films. An original oil on illustration board for George Hobart’s 1921 film Experience starring Helen Ray. The charactors in this piece were all given allegorical names with stars including Richard Barthelmess as “Youth”, and depicted in this illustration is Helen Ray as “Intoxication”. This artwork includes a $900 custom made gold gesso gallery frame and all archival material shown.
Artist: Henry Clive
