Earl Christy

Margaret Sullavan for Photoplay Magazine

1934

A French art deco pastel portrait by Louis-Jean Beaupuy. The work is signed and dated bottom right. Presented in carved and gilded wood frame. Beaupuy has captured all the charm and...

Paul César Helleu is regarded among the most sought-after society portraitists of his era, and his Belle Époque works rival those of his contemporaries John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini. He is best remembered for capturing the era's most beautiful socialites, including Consuelo Vanderbilt, the Duchess of Marlborough, the Comtesse de Loriol Chandieu and the Comtesse Mathieu de Noailles, among others. This work, however, stands out in that it captures the charming likeness of one of his art world cohorts, Mathilde See, a Parisian-born decorator and painter of floral still lifes. She is the essence of the modern woman, captured in her fashionable dress as she strolls along the flower-lined streets of Paris. Commanding in size, Portrait de Mathilde See fully displays Helleu's mastery over the medium of pastel. The muted palette of greys and blues is typical of the artist, bringing a harmony and cohesiveness to the composition. Furthermore, Helleu cleverly alludes to See's own artistic output with a backdrop of vibrant floral blooms, enlivening the canvas and complementing the greens and blues of the peacock feather adorning her hat. The portrait is all the more significant thanks to its provenance. It was previously in the collection of A. Alfred Taubman, one of America's most successful entrepreneurs and one-time owner of Sotheby's. Considering Taubman encountered some of the most noteworthy and beautiful works of art ever made through his auction house, the fact that he chose this portrait by Helleu to grace his collection is a testament to its import. Born in Brittany in 1859, Helleu moved to Paris in 1876 in order to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. Like so many other artists of his generation, he was trained there under the Academic master Jean-Léon Gérôme. That same year, he also attended the Second Impressionist Exhibition...

Master portrait artist and illustration legend Bob Peak captures the likeness, dignity and essence of Saudi Arabia's King Faisal for Time Magazine Cover ...

I apologize for the reflections on the glass of this exquisite Gaston Bouy pastel drawing. It's in a very nice frame in great condition, and I did not want...

Pastel Portrait of a Circus Clown Samuel Brecher, American, (1897 - 1982) This portrait of a clown is pastel on paper, is fully signed by Samuel Brecher and dated 1943. This pastel painting of a clown measures 21.5 inches tall by 15.5 inches wide. Matted in the frame the pastel portrait measures 33.5 inches tall by 26.5 inches wide. Samuel Brecher was born in Boryslaw, Austria, a town near the Carpathian Mountains...

Howard Tangye (b.1948, Australia) has been an influential force in fashion for decades. Lecturing at London’s Central Saint Martins for 35 years, including 16 years as head of BA Wom...