Monthly Archives: May 2018

Art at Auction: Charles Dana Gibson

In the June 5, 2018 illustration auction at Swann Auction Galleries, there is an original pen and ink illustration by Charles Dana Gibson, (1867-1944), from Life magazine:

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2480++++++84+&refno=++743506&saletype=

Gibson1

It appeared in the September 23, 1897 issue, page 247, for a story by Louis Evan Shipman, As Told by the Girl. / In Three Conversations (1.) under the caption,”‘Yes, That’s Just it,’ she answered.”  There were two later installments illustrated by different illustrators

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.c2577385;view=1up;seq=258

Shipman turned the stories into a book, Predicaments, which was published in 1899.  This illustration appeared under the caption, “Sally, I’m in love,” facing page 16.

https://books.google.com/books?id=hV0UAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:predicaments+inauthor:shipman&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiWrIzy4ajbAhU4IDQIHdYNDVgQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

 

Art at Auction: John La Gatta

There is an advertising illustration of a woman wearing a silk slip and washing her hair in a pool of water by John La Gatta (1894-1977) coming up for sale on June 5, 2018 at Swann Auction Galleries.

LaG1

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2480+++++127+&refno=++743505&saletype=

See this link to the National Museum of American Illustration for more information about the artist,

https://americanillustration.org/project/john-lagatta/

 

The illustration in the sale might have been done for Laros Lingerie c. 1940 for either a magazine ad or Laros catalog.

IMG_1076LaG3

Below is an similar illustration by La Gatta for Laros:

lagattaLaros

In 1938, Laros come out with “Dimensional Slip” which was billed as the best fitting slip on the market:

historic-laros-advertisement---pink-silk-slipjpg-975e195f953585e0

This image comes from a history of the company:

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2018/01/how_you_can_help_chronicle_leh.html

Art at Auction: Archie Gunn

Some very nice original postcard illustrations by Archie Gunn (1863-1930) are coming up for sale at Swann Auction Galleries’ June 5 illustration sale.  They are lots 86 to 89.

https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/searchresults.asp?pg=1&sale_no=2480&st=D&viewby=lot_asc&ps=200

See pulpartists.com for a good biography, https://www.pulpartists.com/Gunn.html>

Archie Gunn was a prolific illustrator.  See CardCow for more examples:

https://www.cardcow.com/search3.php?section=unsold&in_category=&s=archie+gunn

The originals watercolors are followed by the postcard reproductions:

Miss Canada, also known as Miss Toronto

Gunnhockey (2)MissCanada

Miss Chicago

GunnphoneMissChicago

Bride of Niagara

GunnwaterfallBride Of Niagara

Rolling Skating Girl

GunnrollerskatesRollerSkatingGirl

Swann Items

Harry W. McVickar (1860-1905) was one of the original artists for Life magazine, and before Charles Dana Gibson, his cartoons focused on social commentary.  He went on to co-found Vogue magazine in 1893 and became its first Art Director.

Important drawing from the first issue of Life magazine, January 4, 1883, p. 5.

“What Hinders.” pen and ink on paper; 11 x 8.5″; signed lower right; condition: Surface dirt, white-out around signature; tack mark

McVickar 001McVickar 002

Life1-4-83

An article about the artist:

Art His Diversion

 

Thomas Maybank (1869-1929)

Six watercolor on board illustrations for Treasure of the Woods by Elsie Blomfield, 1922. Each 10 x 8″.  Each signed and inscribed on the reverse; good condition (I have not found a copy of the book available.)

No.4 ‘…Do hurry and see what it is’, And he disappeared over the hill top’

Maybank 001Maybank 002

No.5 ‘…It’s all my fault that the whole Greenwood is in trouble’

Maybank 003Maybank 004

Florence Scovel Shinn (1871-1940)

Pen and ink thick paper, Sheet: 9 3/4 x 9″; backing: 12 x 11″, signed lower left; Condition: separated from backing; new skirt pasted over old; good condition

“To Arcady” by Beatrice Hanscom, The Century Magazine, Vol. LX, No. 4, August, 1900, p. 640.

shinn1shinn2shinnCentury

 

 

Frederic R. Gruger (1871-1953)

Graphite on illustration board; Image: 9 x 14 3/4″; 13 3/4 x 20″; Condition: generally clean

“The Flying Fish” by Arthur Somers Roche

Colliers, August 10, 1918, p. 13; Chapter 11: “Find Mr. Farl”

gruger1gruger2gruger4GrugerCollier's

 

Richard Amsel (1947-1985)

Pencil on artist board; 19 x 12″; signed lower right.

Condition: lightsoiling

[Fashion Drawing,] 1967

Amsel1amsel2amsel4