Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration
A spectacular, large format, science fiction painting by Dean Ellis which was first used as the paperback cover for the 1970 Corgi published compilation of science fiction writing, SF-5 New Writings in Science Fiction, one of a series of 30 British science fiction anthologies released from 1964 to 1977 under the successive editorships of […]
Artist: Dean Ellis
A deliriously sexy and erotically unhinged Alberto Vargas mixed media pin-up illustration for Playboy Magazine, this appeared on page 104 in the June, 1962 issue. A curvy and pretty new bride is seen in a moment of sudden clarity about to pack up for the divorce capital of the US in this spirited and brash […]
Artist: Alberto Vargas
Wouldn’t You Like To Know… is a large sultry original published pin-up calendar painting by the prolific and important American artist Fritz Willis. Willis was the last true star pin-up artist of the old guard, when illustrative pin-up reigned supreme in men’s magazines and calendars. The artist worked during the very tail end of the […]
Artist: Fritz Willis
A haunting Art Deco in period Pre-Raphaelite in aesthetic watercolor fine art painting by the well listed artist Axel Linus titled Leto And Apollo. A favored lover of Zeus, Leto is known in ancient Greek mythology as the ideal of maternal sacrifice and love. Mother to both Apollo and Artemis, Leto was tormented […]
Artist: Axel Linus
Grapefruit Moon Gallery is delighted to offer this large rare surviving published pin-up pastel illustration, done for the U.O. Colson calendar company of Paris, Ohio – titled Firelight Glow, part of their 1939 calendar line. Easily the finest original pastel calendar pin-up illustration ever offered for sale by the prolific illustrator Jules Erbit, known typically for […]
Artist: Jules Erbit
In May of 1919, on the advice of Sam Kingston, general manager for Florence Ziegfeld, Alberto Vargas applied to be the in-house artist for the Ziegfeld Follies. The rest, as they say, was history. At only 24 Vargas had already established himself as a freelance illustrator of beautiful women, with a sophisticated style inspired by Raphael […]
Artist: Alberto Vargas
This lighthearted cheesecake pin up illustration graced the January 1957 page of Bill Randall’s wildly popular “Randall’s Date Book” 12 page calendar series. For his “Date Book” commissions, Randall played off the success of the Brown & Bigelow Calendar company’s yearly Artist Sketch Pad pin up calendar, while adding his own charm and whimsy. Working […]
Artist: Bill Randall
This original late 1940s-early 1950s pin-up sketch drawing is attributed to Gil Elvgren and was originally purchased from the artist’s son. Years ago, this was acquired by our colleague Rick Martin, author of the reference guide Vintage Illustration, and full provenance history comes with purchase. The work is unsigned, and as such can only be […]
Artist: Attributed to Gil Elvgren
A classic situational cheesecake pin up mishap unfolds in this original Louis F. Dow calendar painting by the Chicago area artist Charles Showalter titled “High & Dry.” The lovely nude is caught, high, and perhaps now dry after removing her clothes. Grapefruit Moon Gallery recently acquired this and several other Louis F. Dow published calendar […]
Artist: Charles Showalter
An unabashedly pure cheesecake situational pin up painting by Harry Ekman likely for The Shaw-Barton Calendar Company of Coshocton, Ohio. In this summertime sizzling scene, a pin up dream–clad only in the skimpiest negligee–finds herself at the fuse-box. The combination of the model’s attempt to keep cool with only a fan and her revealing see […]
Artist: Harry Ekman
