Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
An unusual pen & ink drawing by pre-eminent William Randolph Hearst illustrator Nell Brinkley. This intricately detailed 1932 illustration offers satirical social commentary on the deliterious effects the ongoing Great Depression was having on economic health around the world. In this lighter take on troubled times, three Brinkley Girls are depicted nursing the ailing globe back to health.
Artist: Nell Brinkley
I am pleased to offer a wonderfully executed original pastel by Rolf Armstrong that was used as a College Humor Magazine cover (February 1933) and also as a pair of Brown & Bigelow calendar prints titled Lets Go Places and a cropped “head only” version titled Florence published a few years later in 1937. A skillfully executed and elaborately detailed (and large for the artist) pastel of a sassy, beret-wearing blonde and her Scottish terrier. Classic good girl imagery by the father of American Pin-up.
Artist: Rolf Armstrong
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.
Artist: Mabel Rollins Harris
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.
Artist: Henry Clive
A rare early example of an Enoch Bolles spicy cover girl; a winsome flapper girl sunning in a sheer bikini. This was used as cover art for a Spicy Pulp publication, most likely Breezy Stories or Stolen Sweets. Like most of Enoch Bolles’ paintings it is unsigned.This is guaranteed to be an original work by this heralded pin-up legend. Call or e-mail for a condition report.
Artist: Enoch Bolles
A rare original piece of late 1930’s early 1940’s advertising art from Minneapolis, Minnesota, The City of Lakes and its summer Aquatennial celebration. Winsome sailor girl pin-up imagery. This is painted on tin was most likely signage of some type also has pencil notations on verso which would lead one to believe it was a cover for some Aquatennial-related publication . Artwork is unsigned.
Artist: Unknown
During the 1920’s in America, all eyes were seemingly on the discovery and subsequent opening of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. For a brief period the decorative arts reflected this fascination with all things Egyptian. This influence is today referred to as Art Deco Egyptian. Here is a magnificent example of this popular culture obsession as painted by renouned illustrator Rudolph Schabelitz depicting the presentation of a pectoral and necklace to Princess Sat of Egypt 1800 B.C.
Artist: R. F. Schabelitz
A roaring 20’s flapper girl in a tophat tames a pair of tigers with her feminine guiles. Most likely a cover for a spicy pulp or early vaudeville era magazine. Artwork is mindful of similar covers by Earle K . Bergey, Otto Grenier or H.J. Ward. Like much pulp cover art, this work is unsigned.
Artist: Unknown
he September 1923 cover of Picture Play magazine, a delightful red headed flapper portrait of silent movie player, Pauline Garon. During the roaring twenties, Clive created numerous jazz age-inspired portrait covers for Silent Movie era magazines. These covers were in direct competition with those Rolf Armstrong was creating for College Humor Magazine. A masterful painter, on par with Rolf Armstrong and the other top deco era American Illustrators, Henry Clive was adept at both pastel work and oils, and his original works are extremely scarce and coveted by collectors.
Artist: Henry Clive
This is a touching, inscribed presentation drawing from Zeigfeld Follies illustrator, Henry Clive, to Alfred Cheney Johnston, the legendary long time Follies photographer. Johnston was a leading 1920’s movie and performist portrait photographer. I have several vintage 1920’s examples of his photography currently listed in the Photographs and Prints category on this site.
Artist: Henry Clive
