Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
An elementally beautiful nymph in the midst of metamorphosis rises from the churning sea in this mythic and beautiful 1907 oil on canvas by Paul Swan. This important early example from the artist, who was himself a social butterfly, features tremendous sophistication of technique, and combines the Art Nouveau style which was popular at the time with hints of the streamlined figural forms which would become synonymous with the art deco era.
Artist: Paul Swan
A Grecian inspired, fantasy themed, mixed media illustration that was used by the Thos. D. Murphy Calendar company for a 1930 calendar titled The Glory That Was Ancient Greece. This whimsical yet erotic Grecian maiden themed work consists of a heavily tinted photograph of the two Grecian adorned beauties by L.G. Woolenden and an elaborate garden landscape painting by Rudolph Ingerle that envelopes the photographic element. This team of enterprising calendar art talents created numerous works under the pseudonym L. Goddard Surviving original L Goddard artworks are quite rare and spectacular, and among our favorite examples of fantastical and escapist art deco/Great Depression calendar illustration. A large printed calendar from the Thomas D. Murphy calendar company archives is included in the sale.
Artist: L. Goddard
A well rendered 1970s time capsule painting by Don Ivan Punchatz, for the paperback cover of the 1970 Avon title “Hawksbill Station”. This work is reminiscent of the album cover art from this remarkable time, and speaks to the psychedelic youth culture popular at the time, which moved from the buttoned-up consumerist graphics of the previous generation towards hyper realist imagery thought to heighten the sensations of LSD and marijuana. Work is unframed and mounted on a masonite panel, a copy of the book is included in the sale.
Artist: Don Ivan Punchatz
A fantastic original oil on board illustration by George Washington Hood exploring Swedish mythology, illustrating the story Silverwhite & Lillwacker in “The Swedish Fairy Book.” Caption reads “Then Silverwhite drew his sword with a great sweep, & rushed upon the sea troll.” From the Golden Age of Illustration this painting is a magical work that is beautifully framed and ready to enjoy, a 1921 First Edition copy of the published book with illustration featured on page 44 is included in the sale.
Artist: George Washington Hood
A large, Victorian era, original watercolor on illustration board by frequent LIFE Magazine illustrator, Charles Howard Johnson. This was most likely an interior, 2-page, color plate illustration for Truth Magazine. A stylized Belle Epoque, old world gondola scene. Nicely framed in a large, period, gesso wood frame.
Artist: Charles Howard Johnson
A large and fantastic oil painting by New York Illustrator and artist Edmund F. Ward for an interior story in The Pictorial Review Nov. 1921; titled “The Girl Who Wanted a Fairy Prince”. A magical other-worldly scene that serves as the artists image selection in the Walt Reed penned “The Illustrator in America”. Additionally this painting has been exhibited at The Norman Rockwell Museum in 2002, and at The Society Of Illustrators in 1984. Nicely framed in a handsome hand crafted white gold museum quality frame.
Artist: Edmund Ward
A large ethereal and transcendent fantasy themed pastel by Frederick Stuart Church firmly planted in the then dominant Art Nouveau movement. Four angelic maidens emerge from graceful flowing lines conjured mid flight, the artwork highlights the artist’s soothing and decorative palette and imaginative sense of composition.
Artist: Frederick Stuart Church
An extraordinary and experimental early work by Hannes Bok, featuring a bizarre surreal landscape with a young boy riding a prehistoric creature. Hannes Bok was the pseudonym of Wayne Woodard, a self taught artist who was fascinated by the luminous quality of Maxfield Parrish’s oil paintings.
Upon a visit from the impoverished teenage Bok, and impressed by the examples of Bok’s work, Parrish gave Bok an expensive set of oil paints and brushes to help the teenager build on his obvious gifts.
Artist: Hannes Bok
An other-worldly science fiction themed cover painting for the 1977 Ace Paperback edition of “The Silent Invaders” by Robert Silverberg. A well realized fantasy minded surrealist excursion into another dimension by the prolific and vanguard sci-fi artist Dan Ivan Punchatz. Work is nicely framed and comes with the published Ace paperback edition shown.
Artist: Don Ivan Punchatz
A bizarre and macabre artwork by one of our favorite illustrators Mahlon Blaine titled on verso “A Fish Story.” A mermaid Medusa-like nude rendered in a pastel colored palette with an unusual size and configuration that leads us to believe this was created as a left-hand page interior illustration in a pulp magazine such as Weird Tales. When reproduced we imagine text would have been blocked around the right edge of this highly creative image.
Artist: Mahlon Blaine
