Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
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
A large and fabulous original illustration painting by Eric Pape used in “The Fair God” by Lew Wallace as a bookplate (page 462, with the caption “She gave him the signal”).
Pape is best remembered as a prolific illustrator of children’s books and historical fantasies, as well as an artistic contributor to Scribner’s, Cosmopolitan, and Century Magazine. After opening his own illustration school in 1898, he taught N.C. Wyeth, whose style is influenced by Pape’s own.
Artist: Eric Pape
This is an absolutely exquisite pastel in the pre-Raphaelite style which depicts a climactic scene from “The Geste of Duke Joceyln.” Originally used as the frontispiece for the light verse novel by popular English author Jeffrey Farnol, the scene features the fetching Duchess Yolande being presented at court after winning the heart of Duke Jocelyn. This is a shining example of Eric Pape’s whimsical yet classic style of illustrating, and features remarkable use of color and detailing. Pape was a well-regarded and often-exhibited artist from the turn of the 20th century until his death in 1938. His original art is highly coveted and recently his pastel work has fetched $45,000.00 at Christies. This epic pastel is one of the nicest examples of Pape’s work I have come across.
Artist: Eric Pape
