Category Archives: Uncategorized

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=

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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

 

 

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

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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’

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

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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

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Art at Auction: Paul Stahr World War 1 Cover

A January 10, 1918 Life magazine cover illustration is coming up for sale at Copake Auction on January 1, 2018:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/58308126_paul-stahr-1883-1953

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Paul Stahr (1883-1953) was a prolific illustrator who painted for numerous magazines:

1921_09_1028-02,ElksARGOSY.-February-6-1932

In this auction, there are a number of Cream of Wheat illustrations by Edward Vincent Brewer as well:

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https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/58308146_edward-vincent-brewer-1883-1971

Art at Auction: John Sloan and Bristol Bricks, 1941

A John Sloan painting recently went through auction at William Bunch Auctions.  John Sloan (1871-1951) was a well-known artist and a founder of the Ashcan School of artists.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/55995867_american-school-20th-c-ob-tol-bricks.

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The painting is oil on board and shows an overcast urban landscape and river view with piles of bricks and rubble in the left foreground.  On the reverse it is entitled [Tol Bricks / N.Y.C.”]

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An internet search for “Tol Bricks” didn’t come up with a match but “Bristol Bricks”  and “New York City” did.

In 1941, empty cargo ships returning to the Port of New York from the United Kingdom carried bomb debris from destroyed buildings in Bristol, England as ballast.  The bricks and concrete were used as landfill to construct East River Drive between 23rd and 34th streets.

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And what became Waterside Plaza (photograph from the 1970s):

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The newspaper photograph and the photo from Waterside Plaza show the Queensboro Bridge and large smoke stacks in the background.

A view that is the same as the painting’s:

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Detail:

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A plaque was laid in 1942 to commemorate the naming of part of the area:

BRISTOL BASIN

BENEATH THIS EAST RIVER
DRIVE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
LIE STONES, BRICKS AND RUBBLE
FROM THE BOMBED CITY OF BRISTOL
IN ENGLAND… BROUGHT HERE IN
BALLAST FROM OVERSEAS, THESE
FRAGMENTS THAT WERE ONCE HOMES
SHALL TESTIFY WHILE MEN LOVE
FREEDOM TO THE RESOLUTION AND
FORTITUDE OF THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN.
THE SAW THEIR HOME STRUCK DOWN
WITHOUT WARNING…. IT WAS NOT
THEIR WALLS BUT THEIR VALOR
THAT KEPT THEM FREE ……

And broad-based under all
Is planted England’s oaken-hearted mood,
As rich in fortitude
As e’er went worldward from the island-wall.

ERECTED BY THE
ENGLISH-SPEAKING UNION OF THE UNITED STATES
** 1942 **

https://read-the-plaque.appspot.com/plaque/bristol-basin

In 1974, Cary Grant, who was from Bristol, rededicated the plaque:

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https://read-the-plaque.appspot.com/plaque/bristol-basin

Updates to the 50th & 51st Foot

Below is a list of officers who should have been included on the 1755 Army List but appeared on the 1756 List.

50th Foot:

Captains:

Staates Long Morris                        12 Feb. 1755 (ex. from King’s ind. coy. (New-York) (c.l.))

 

Lieutenants:

Thomas Moncrief[1]     (20/9/54) 17 Dec. 1754 (ex. from 51st F.)

Estes Hatch                                         19 Dec. 1754 (ex. from h-p Shirley’s F.)

Robert McKinen                               24 Dec. 1754 (ex. from h-p Pepperell’s F.; (McKinnon, Mackenin))

Nathaniel Brinley                             29 Dec. 1754

Jeremiah Tinker                                 10 Apr. 1755

 

Ensigns:

Thomas Fortye                                  17 Dec. 1754

Joseph Goldthwaite                         20 Dec. 1754

John Billings                                        21 Dec. 1754

Arent Schuyler de Peister  (Deposter)              30 Apr. 1755

 

51st Foot:

Captains:

William Williams[4]                          24 Dec. 1754

James Delancey                                     25 Dec. 1754

 

Lieutenants:

David Haldane         (30/9/54) 31 Oct. 1754

Daniel Tilton                            1 Jan. 1755

Nathaniel Williams                 2 Jan. 1755

(–) Rose                                                 (–)

 

Ensigns:

Benjamin White                                19 Dec. 1754 (ex. from h-p Pepperell’s F.)

Theophilus Dame                             02 Jan. 1755

Henry Isaac Wondall (Wendel)     18 Feb. 1755

Courtland Schuyler                          24 Apr. 1755

 

An 18th Century Boxing Match

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Bristol, Feb. 14, 1756 “We hear that at a Boxing Match lately fought near this City, the Person who gave the Challenge was found by the Surgeon that attended him in the following melancholy Condition, viz one Eye beaten out, eight Ribs broke, his Brisket sunk in, his Omoplates [shoulder blades] in four Quarters, and his under Jaw-Bone in three pieces; it is said that he is since dead.  The other Combatant had his Nose struck level with his Face, his Collar-Bone broke, and his Left Ear torn off.”

from the The Leeds Intelligencer (Leeds, England), Tuesday, February 24, 1756; pg. 1; Issue 87.

Chronology of Events for December 1755

December 20, 1755: “A proclamation was issued for prolonging the term, during which gunpowder shall not be exported, for six months.  Also another proclamation for continuing the bounty to seamen and land men till the first of February.”

December 27, 1755: “Brest, Dec. 27. By a late survey of the naval stores, and the representations of the several boards of works throughout the kingdom, it is found that a sufficient quantity of materials are already imported and deposited in his majesty’s magazines, for the equipment of 150 sail of the line. Orders have since been sent hither for the construction of ten new ships, to Rochefort for eight, and to Toulon for the construction of five, all upwards of 50 guns.”