original calendar art

An exceedingly scarce original oil on canvas by noted Illinois early calendar artist F.R. Harper. Harper had a long and successful career in American Illustration. He was particularily adept at portraying exotic-themed Anglo Saxon-ized Indian Maidens and his rare paintings of beautiful women are some of the most poignant in terms of mood and technique from the early art nouveau influenced pre art deco years of glamour art. This is nicely framed and has been oversprayed with some type of varnish or shellac at some point and is priced accordingly.

Early Calendar Maiden at a Stream

Artist: F. R. Harper

We have a collection of three Gag Cartoons done by the well listed illustrator Bob Pettes for reproduction as calendar art by Brown & Bigelow. These feature hapless “Scotch swilling ” hacks — ala Caddyshack and Rodney Dangerfield — but decades earlier in this depiction. Ready to frame with expensive round cut matts. Pettes is best known as an illustrator for puzzle reproduction.

Collection of Golf-themed Gag Cartoons

Artist: Robert Pettes

An original commissioned oil on canvas for Brown and Bigelow for use as a reproduced calendar pin-up illustration by Paul Cernia. A fun western-themed cowgirl image in the Gil Elvgren manner of campy, sexy, shapely, pin-up frivolity. Nicely framed and in excellent untouched original condition.

Brown & Bigelow Pin Up Cowgirl Painting

Artist: Paul Cernia

A wonderful commisioned Brown and Bigelow “Calendar Girl” original pastel by Earl Moran, for an August 1956 Calendar, titled NOW’S THE TIME FOR DREAMS OF YOU, A PLEASURE FINE AND WONDROUS TOO… Classic American pin-up imagery, a seated, Marilyn Monroe-esque, redhead reclining in a diaphonous, green silk nightgown. Sale includes a color, printed calendar page and a mutoscope card of image as seen. In period gesso wood frame, nicely and professionally double matted and ready to hang.

August 1956 Pin Up Calendar Girl

Artist: Earl Moran

I am proud to offer the original illustration, created in 1952 by T.N. Thompson for The Champion Line. This image turned up for many years and was featured on desk calendars, as well as large hanging calendars with commissioned advertising pads. The early title was: GALS IN GINGHAM SUITED DAD, BLONDES IN LACE FOR THIS LAD. Later when Marilyn Monroe became the international sensation and sexy nude pin-up, this was retitled simply Marilyn for obvious reasons. Double matted and professionally framed in a vintage, gold gesso, wood stepped frame. Includes a letter from Brown & Bigelow expressing this painting’s authenticity, and a copied catalog showing this iconic illustration in various incarnations from Champion Product Lines.

Marilyn Monroe

Artist: T. N. Thompson

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.

Sprite of Springtime

Artist: Mabel Rollins Harris

The legendary pastel by Earl Moran of a young pin-up model soon to become Marilyn Monroe. In 1949 the young, winsome Norma Jean approached the established Earl Moran with dreams of modeling for his portraits. With Moran’s eye for beauty, there was no hesitation and a series of illustrations of Marilyn Monroe were born. This pastel was commissioned Calendar Art for Brown & Bigelow and was originally titled CONSENTIDA( an example appears on their webpage ) and marketed to a Latin audience initially.

Marilyn Monroe as “The Spanish Girl”

Artist: Earl Moran

A charming original oil on canvas by noted Calendar artist Charlotte Becker. Rare, original commissioned calendar art retains verso label with work order instructions, dated with detailed instructions for printing specifics. The calendar company is not identified on label, additionally there is a verso label for Max Rosenstein Art Shop on the backing paper, with a Philadelphia address. This is a very popular enduring image and a rare opportunity to own the original painting. Beautifully framed in its original gesso painted art deco frame.

Child Sleeping With Toy Rabbit

Artist: Charlotte Becker

An early example of a fine art glamour painting, depicting “Birute”, a 14th century Lithuanian princess. Original commissioned artwork for calendar reproduction by Hoover and Sons. This oil on canvas is reproduced in The Great American Pin-Up (Martignetti and Meisel) on page 25, fig #15. Along with Angelo Asti, Whitroy was a prolific Art Nouveau era Victorian glamour artist.

Birute Lithuanian Princess

Artist: Hy Whitroy

A rare and large stunning pastel by noted illustrator Adelaide Hiebel. A remarkable composition, in pristine condition, this is a monumental example of American Calendar art and effortlessy illustrates the allure of the Indian Maiden and the Depression era popular culture interest with exotic-themed escapism. This illustration is pictured in the Collectors Press reference book Vintage Illustration on page 200. Interestingly the artists name is misspelled on the pastel as it is on the Gerlach-Barklow Calendar Co art print. This is 100% guaranteed original and vintage and by the hand of Adelaide Hiebel.

Hiawatha’s Honeymoon

Artist: Adelaide Hieibel

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