Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

American Weekly

Grapefruit Moon Gallery is honored to offer this rare and exceptional original pastel illustration which Henry Clive created for the cover of the Valentines Day edition (February 13, 1937) of “The American Weekly.” Part of Clive’s “Vision of an Artist” series of covers for this Randolph Hearst publication, these Visions illustrated forces of nature such as the tornado and (in this case) Aurora Borealis as mythical images of femininity. The concept of women as natural phenomenon and even natural disasters is something Clive took a personal interest in, as his 6 failed marriages will attest. This enchanting and inventive depiction titled “The Aurora” features favorite Clive model and Randolph Hearst mistress Marion Davies as the goddess of the northern lights, radiating over a polar ice cap.

The Aurora

Artist: Henry Clive

A delightful, whimsical early oil on board painting by Henry Clive, one of our favorite American Illustrators. This dates from 1916-1920 and was likely created as cover art for Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. Featuring a cute and perky flapper in pirate girl garb, this a rare surviving example by this gifted and influential, prolific illustrator. Work is nicely framed in a period 1930s limed wood frame.

An Art Deco Pirate Girl

Artist: Henry Clive

A rare surviving fresh estate find, an original pastel cover done for The American Weekly from a series titled, Visions Of An Artist, circa 1937. This particular series seems to artistically “feminize” natural disasters. Aptly titled “Menace”. Beautifully matted and framed in an expensive gallery frame as seen. This was renamed by the magazine and appeared as a cover under the title “Angry Nature” on Feb 28, 1937. This was unearthed in California recently and was in the estate of Patricia Lake, the rumored illigitimate daughter of Hearst and his long time mistress and confident, Marion Davies.

Angry Nature

Artist: Henry Clive

A rare surviving fresh estate find; an original pastel cover created for The American Weekly from a series titled, Visions Of An Artist, circa 1937. This particular series seems to artistically “feminize” natural disasters and this piece is aptly titled “Maid of the Mist”. Beautifully matted and framed in a period, vintage gesso, antique frame as seen. This was unearthed in California recently and was in the estate of Patricia Lake, the rumored illigitimate daughter of Hearst and his long time mistress and confident, Marion Davies.

Maid of the Mist

Artist: Henry Clive

An original art deco pastel by noted cover illustrator and sometimes pin-up creator, Victor Tchetchet. Illustrating the interior story by John Erskine titled Thargelia. Face is very Rolf Armstrong-esque. A worn tear sheet of the cover is included in the sale, nicely framed and double matted in a vintage gesso period frame.

Thargelia

Artist: Victor Tchetchet

An exotic Far East-themed interior illustration for the January 30th 1949 edition of Randolph Hearst’s American Weekly Magazine. Caption reads: ” Queen Supi-Yaw-Lat and her wicked mother prodded the hen-pecked King to torture anyone who might be a rival.” Framed in a gold wood suitable frame as seen.

The Dragon Throne Returns To Mandalay

Artist: Jules Gottlieb

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

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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