new york city

The Light of New York by Walter Dean Goldbeck was created as a full page color advertisement that ran in The Saturday Evening Post for General Electric. The inspired and almost transcendentally captivating image would later become a Judge Magazine cover (August 1, 1914) under the title “The Spirit of New York”. The image, which features a mischievous goddess sprinkling moonlight down onto the city below also captured the imagination of music publishers Fred Fischer, who used it as a sheet music cover for his composition “I Found a Rose in the Devil’s Garden.”

The Light of New York

Artist: Walter Dean Goldbeck

A stylized and well conceived gouache illustration painting dated 1925 by New York City artist and illustrator Robert Reid MacGuire. This art deco erotic offering features a nearly nude goddess in a gossamer long dress with a train attended to by 2 blackamoor servants. We are unsure of the exact usage of this illustration it likely was published as a full color bookplate in an unidentified pulication. The artist was active in New York City as both a designer and an artist and had his first exhibition in 1928 in Manhattan.

A Gossamer Goddess

Artist: Robert Reid MacGuire

A rare surviving art deco gouache painting by one of our favorite American illustrators Edward Eggleston. This was created as the cover for a Valentines Day themed crafting magazine, Dennison’s Party Magazine,Jan/Feb 1928. Eggleston was a New York based calendar artist and illustrator who is best remembered today for his Jazz Age, racy and stylized 1920s Atlantic City travel posters that brought to light the allure of the flapper girl with risque bathing beauty imagery.

The Valentine Girl

Artist: Edward Eggleston

A comical yet masterful charcoal illustration titled “The American Girl and Why” by gifted and prolific New York City illustrator James Montgomery Flagg. This bawdy nude was likely used to illustrate a 1930s edition of the Lamb’s Club Monthly Magazine. The Lamb’s Club was established in 1874 as America’s first professional theatrical club. Renowned artists such as James Montgomery Flagg, Howard Chandler Christy, Hubert Vos, Robert Reid, and Everett Raymond Kinstler created paintings for this fraternal group that fell into two general categories; the Shepherds’ (Presidents’) portraits, and the nudes.

The American Girl and Why

Artist: James Montgomery Flagg

A large, signed, oil on canvas painting by prolific and influential New York City illustrator James Montgomery Flagg titled “At The Stork Club”. A prohibition/speakeasy-era, exhibited, large format illustration inviting us in behind the doors of New York City’s legendary Stork Club. Exhibited in 1976 at the Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts in Columbus Georgia as well as the Berry-Hill Galleries on 5th Avenue in New York.

At The Stork Club

Artist: James Montgomery Flagg

Doris Niles was a premiere ballerina and concert dancer, known primarily for her Spanish-inspired pieces, and one of the shining beauties of the New York stage. Her flamboyant continental costume and dramatically posed stance in this portrait by Nikolas Muray, capture the dancer’s unique and refined sensibility. Muray, one of the masters of the modern expressive style, chronicled the New York dance world in the art deco jazz age, and his expert eye is on display to fine effect in this seductive view.

Doris Niles

Artist: Nickolas Muray

A rare surviving gouache painting by Brooklyn, New York pin-up artist and Calendar Illustrator Frank D’amario. Grapefruitmoongallery has sold dozens of this artists published pin-up prints and calendars over the years and recently acquired a pair of his original paintings. This sadly has a faint water tide line and rippling to the paper in the bottom portion. It is certainly acceptable as-is but could perhaps benefit from some careful paper conservation, it is bargain priced accordingly and by all accounts a scarce surviving example of The Great American Pin-up.

The Swimming Hole

Artist: Frank D'Amario

A comic illustration in pen & ink by noted New York illustrator John Held Jr. This was published in the newspaper “The Westport Herald”, with commentary on the Saugatuck River and pollution issues of the time in Connecticut. Caption reads “Hey Buddy How Can I Find The Saugatuck? Follow Your Nose!” Matted and framed and signed lower right by the artist.

Follow Your Nose

Artist: John Held Jr.

A bright and colorful, new to the market, original gouache on board by the prolific Hungarian artist Willy Pogany. This was created as an interior book plate illustration for an undetermined publication. A feast is laid before the king and his dog in this cleverly rendered original illustration. The verso is notated “pg. 7” and with the text “Golden Cocker #3” and an inventory number designating this as a published work. It is boldly signed lower right and nicely matted and framed behind glass.

The Feast

Artist: Willy Pogany

A colorful and festive original gouache painting by the prolific Hungarian artist Willy Pogany created as an interior book plate illustration. A drunken king is carried off by the kingdom’s subjects after a sumptious feast in this colorful and cleverly rendered original illustration. The verso is notated “pg. 47” this was a published work. It is boldly signed lower right and nicely matted and framed behind glass.

After The Feast

Artist: Willy Pogany

« Previous Page