Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

Recent Additions

A whimsical art deco original gouache painting titled “La Coquette” by Alberto Vargas. An early work by the Peruvian born pin-up legend exploring the Commedia dell’arte revival that took hold around 1915, the cast of characters in this boldly colored and delightful Edwardian scene features the requisite maiden courted by a Harlequin with slapstick at his side as her guardian looks on in horror. Vargas brings a unique spin to this popular genre and his artistic mastery is apparent even at this early date. This was acquired by Charles Martignette in 1989 from the Vargas estate – the painting is accompanied by a series of Kodak color photographs (dated June 1989) taken by Martignette of this painting, also included are several color photographs of the artist and Martignette taken shortly before Vargas’ death in 1982.

La Coquette

Artist: Alberto Vargas

A 1942 original pastel on board by Cardwell Higgins created for an advertising display sign for “Adola Brassieres”. Higgins executed a series of these images all with erotically charged pin-up girl style and often times set in Hawaii as in this example. This is the only known surviving pastel from this campaign, the text on the die-cut display created from the artwork read “The Secret To a Lovely Figure”.

Secret To A Lovely Figure

Artist: Cardwell Higgins

A large fashion original illustration by Charles Gates Sheldon which served as an interior fashion plate for the September 1921 issue of The Woman’s Home Companion. This lovely model is adorned in the latest and stylish current evening wear a gown by Henri Bendel the title is “Very Wearable – Don’t You Think?”. This large pen & ink and wash is executed in a fine en grisaille style for interior black and white print reproduction. A stylish example by this illustrator who of course also worked as a cover artist for Photoplay magazine and the other early Hollywood Silent Movie era titles.

Very Wearable

Artist: Charles Sheldon

An early 1900’s original illustration by Orson Lowell depicting a group of young boys taking in a baseball game knot-hole style. Major League Baseball of course still uses the term when larger ticket buys of youth groups are involved. I had never made a connection with the visual here, that the term stemmed from young boys peering through knot holes in the lumber used to build the outfield fences. A nostalgic Americana, baseball themed work by the gifted and prolific important golden age illustrator. Nicely matted and framed and ready to enjoy.

The Knot Hole Game

Artist: Orson Lowell

Another fine original artwork from the storied Cream of Wheat advertising archives. An original watercolor on illustration board by B. Cory Kilvert titled Lest We Forget. This large and decidedly quaint image borrows from The American Arts & Crafts aesthetic which was firmly rooted into American culture in 1907, when this image first saw light as a full page magazine ad in hundreds of popular publications such as The Saturday Evening Post. Responding to fussy, over ornamented Victorian tastes, the Arts & Crafts movement artists evoked scenes of Dutch mills and serene pastoral views presented in contrast to modern industrialization. This unique and delightful hearth and home image from this iconic advertising campaign is surely one of the most enduring images from this long running series.

Lest We Forget

Artist: B. Cory Kilvert

A bright, crisp, art deco oil on canvas, featuring a stylish flapper mother in cloche hat and her children marveling at Rastus, the iconic Cream of Wheat chef, who is winking at modernism by pointing to the picture within the picture. A very rare surviving work which is attributed to Enoch Bolles, who worked for many years creating similar streetcar advertisements for Vicks Vaporub, Squibb’s Dental Cream and Uneeda Biscuits.

Here We Are!

Artist: Enoch Bolles (attributed)

Dating to the WPA-era, when many American artists turned their attention to the perils of modernity, urbanization, and the consequences of industrialization, this oil on canvas fine art painting takes a surreal and bleak apocalyptic look at a cityscape (likely New York City) being set upon by a serpent and the wolves that act as his familiars.

City In Ruins

Artist: Unknown American Artist

 

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