Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

american

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

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

A wonderful whimsically-rendered interior illustration for the long running American magazine, Judge. Titled A Dangerous Landing from the early days of aviation and the heroism associated by “those men in their flying machines”. Marked on verso Judge magazine and beautifully-framed in a large, period, fumed oak frame.

A Dangerous Landing

Artist: F. Foster Lincoln

A rare surviving Detective Pulp cover illustration of a hard boiled New York City policeman with a drawn gun. A defining cover for the May 1932 issue of Real Detective , illustrating the interior story “Pay or Die! The Menace of the Kidnapping Terrorists”. Artwork by Alec Redmond signed lower right. Oil on stretched canvas retains original gesso painted wood frame. Call or e-mail for a complete condition report.

Pay or Die!

Artist: Alec Redmond

A large and spectacular example of Sawyers’ illustrative mastery in specializing in ethnic-based exotic and often at times Far Eastern-inspired action/drama renderings. This image is reproduced in The Illustrator in America by Roger Reed on page 224. Pastel is nicely framed and matted and a complete edition of the Collier’s magazine in which the piece appeared, is included with the sale.

Taboo in Samoa

Artist: Martha Sawyers

 

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