Grapefruit Moon Gallery

Original Art from the Grand Age of American Illustration

stockings

An original 1961 Oil on Canvas by Gilette Elvgren commissioned for the Brown & Bigelow Calendar Company and published under the title “A Neat Package”. A sexy Elvgren pin-up that explores the silk stockings and garters scenario that the artist is best known for. For those of you not keeping track, recent auctions have seen Elvgren’s pin-up works for Brown & Bigelow topping $200,000.00 at auction on more than one occasion with a high water mark of $262,900.00 this June.

A Neat Package

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  S O L D

A large, colorful, situationally challenged pin-up girl finds herself in a revealing moment deftly rendered by the infamous Edward D’ancona. This painting, entitled Handle With Care was commissioned by The Thos. D. Murphy Calendar Company; Red Oak Iowa and a large original archived published calendar of this image is included in the sale. A scarce surviving original work by this prolific American cheesecake maestro.

Handle With Care

Artist: Edward D'Ancona
Price:  S O L D

Titled at turns “Toast of the Town” and “A Frame Worth PIcturing,” this 1954 Oil on Canvas is Gil Elvgren at his finest. The painting displays Elvgren’s unsurpassed mastery of composition, color, humor, and the female form. Elvgren’s favorite model, Myrna Hansen, is shown cheekily posed in garters, stockings, and heels by an artist’s easel. Scandalously, Hansen modeled for this pin-up while she was the reigning Miss USA. Describing her tenure as Elvgren’s muse, Hansen has said: “I just had to lift my skirt and say, ‘ahh.'”

Toast of The Town

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  S O L D

This is a remarkable, new to the market, original 1959 Oil on Canvas by Gillette Elvgren. This stunning painting was used for a Brown & Bigelow Pin-up Calendar smartly titled T.V. Spectacular. This remarkable work personifies the appeal of Elvgren, with cleverly posed sexy cutie in garters and stockings precarious posed in a bright colorful outdoor setting. comes beautifully framed in a museum quality carved period frame, verso features original calendar company label. Condition is astounding as is the work.

T.V. Spectacular

Artist: Gil Elvgren
Price:  S O L D

A large original commissioned pin-up genre pastel on illustration board by Knute O. Munson for a 1949 Brown & Bigelow Calendar titled Top Service Is Delivered. This was given to a store owner in Tulsa Oklahoma decades earlier by the regional Brown & Biglelow salesman there as a reward for advertising with his company. It is cleverly signed on the falling package by the artist.

Top Service is Delivered

Artist: K. O. Munson
Price:  S O L D

A fun and decidedly unabashed, sexy pin-up calendar girl by Saint Paul native and Brown and Bigelow illustrator Paul Cernia. Image is titled High Pressure Cooker and labeled on back stretcher. There are numerous overpainted signings of the artists signature as he was seemingly trying to create a stylized version to go with his new found pin-up commissions. Many times these racy images of this era would fade into the canvas and leave nonessential, non-girl details ommitted. It is not clear if this piece is unfinished or completed as intended. Retains what would appear to be original plain handsome wood frame.

High Pressure Cooker

Artist: Paul Cernia
Price:  S O L D

 

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