Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
In this fun and detailed published pen & ink illustration, an arch of beautiful Brinkley girls hover over a young man who sludges through the trials of life: childhood, school, higher education, and finally employment in an endeavor to find success in the form of riches and finally, a beautiful Brinkley girl to call his […]
Artist: Nell Brinkley
In this fun and detailed published pen & ink illustration, an ethereal Brinkley beauty finds herself enchanted by the musical renderings of her guitar-playing suitor during a moonlit, rooftop rendezvous that encompasses the youthful, carefree romance of the Jazz Age. Nell Brinkley, the “Queen of Comics” and successful American illustrator and comic artist, was known […]
Artist: Nell Brinkley
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.
Artist: Orson Lowell
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.
Artist: Enoch Bolles (attributed)
This very well rendered and rare surviving watercolor illustration painting by the French boudoir artist Suzanne Meunier dates to around 1920.
Artist: Suzanne Meunier
Grapefruit Moon Gallery is honored to offer “They Shall Obtain Mercy,” a large and important gouache which served as preparation for one of 11 allegorical murals Savage created for The Elks Veteran Memorial in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. The works are still on display at this landmark destination. This deeply moving and symbolic work reflects on the hardships and loss of World War I. This poignant, decorative, important artwork is beautifully matted and framed, and the art has a room-commanding presence.
Artist: Eugene Savage
A pair of interior illustrations in pen & ink by Louis Rhead, from the 1924 edition of Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge. The drawings are on 2 separate sheets of watercolor paper which were mounted on one illustration board by Rhead. Works are nicely matted and framed in a period dark oak quarter sawn mission oak frame.
Artist: Louis Rhead
An electrifying, intense, and important original oil painting by Eric Pape for a 1928 Edition of Victor Hugo’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” A dark and macabre masterwork from a climactic mob scene in this brooding despairing tale, the work is featured as a full page color-plate on page 488 in the chapter “An Awkward Friend”. An artist signed hard cover edition of the book is included with the sale and the work is nicely matted and framed in a period frame behind glass.
Artist: Eric Pape
An original gouache cover illustration for an unidentified issue of the notorious French publication “La Vie Parisienne”. The long running, humorous and racy magazine chronicled the exploits and sexual proclivities of sassy and free spirited French follies showgirls and their often dim witted suitors in risque, breezy, spicy pulp-like fashion. This original gouache painting is nicely double matted in an oval window in a fine antique ornate gesso gold frame behind glass.
Artist: Maurice Milliere
A whimsical and delicately rendered oil on canvas by John Rae embodying the artist’s unique mix of pointillism and impressionism. Rae, a student of Howard Pyle, was commissioned to create this delightful painting in 1925 for a Cream Of Wheat advertisement titled “It’s a Busy World When You’re Five.” The image features a rollicking street scene with an organ grinder and monkey entertaining children and neighborhood pets. Seldom do original artworks come on the market that offer the chance to own a part of history, and we are delighted to be able to offer them.
Artist: John Rae
