Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Melbourne Spurr
Photograph of Mary Pickford - Melbourne Spurr Photography - Silent Film Actress

1920s

$2,500
£1,911.38
€2,201.53
CA$3,503.27
A$3,911.07
CHF 2,049.34
MX$47,875.31
NOK 26,026.65
SEK 24,539.82
DKK 16,430.22

About the Item

Photograph of Mary Pickford - Melbourne Spurr Photography Photograph depicting Mary Pickford by Hollywood photographer Melbourne Spurr (Canadian-American, 1892-1979). Mary Pickford is depicted wearing a white sleeveless dress, sitting in a lounge chair, facing forward, the side of her face is the focal point. Pickford's blonde hair is shown in tight finger curls, her hands on her lap, with a single pearl necklace around her neck. Pickford looks innocently ahead while the photographer captures her side profile. Lovely original 1921 sepia toned photograph of silent film actress. From the Estates of Mary Pickford and Elizbeth Huggins her personal assistant. This one of the larger 11'H x 14"W photographs Mary would give to her personal friends and associates in her film studio (United Artists) (Mary gifted it to Elizabeth "Bess" Huggins and through her estate to us.) Melbourne Spurr arrived in Hollywood around 1917 and worked for the noted photographer Fred Hartsook taking portraits of the early stars. Spurr photographed Mary Pickford while working at the Hartsook studio and so impressed her that she personally helped launch his career as a Hollywood portrait photographer. By the mid 1920s he was one of the premier celebrity portraitists in the world. By this time the major movie studios were mandating that their stars could only be photographed by their own photographers. Spurr chose to keep his own studio, and was eventually shut out in favor of men like George Hurrell, Clarence Sinclair Bull, Eugene Robert Richee and others who worked for the big motion picture studios. Spurr shined in Hollywood for one glorious decade - the "Roaring 20s" - but then moved on to photographing other notables like US presidents, artists, authors and dancers. "Melbourne Spurr LA" lower left "Credit Melbourne Spurr Photogrpaher, Los Angeles, California" on verso. Presented in a white mat Mat size: 20"H x 16"W Paper size: 14"H x 11"W Image: 13"H x 10"W Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the American film industry, she co-founded Pickford–Fairbanks Studios and United Artists, and was one of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Cited as "America's Sweetheart" during the silent film era, and the "girl with the curls", she was one of the Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood and a significant figure in the development of film acting. She was one of the earliest stars to be billed under her own name, and was one of the most popular actresses of the 1910s and 1920s, earning the nickname "Queen of the Movies". She is credited with having defined the ingénue type in cinema. She was awarded the second Academy Award for Best Actress for her first sound film role in Coquette (1929), and she also received an Academy Honorary Award in 1976 in consideration of her contributions to American cinema.
  • Creator:
    Melbourne Spurr (American)
  • Creation Year:
    1920s
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 20 in (50.8 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    very Good. Some normal age toning to back paper.
  • Gallery Location:
    Soquel, CA
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: N89521stDibs: LU54213488742

More From This Seller

View All
Greta Garbo in Susan Lenox (Her Fall And Rise) - Photograph by Clarence Sinclair
By Clarence Sinclair Bull
Located in Soquel, CA
Greta Garbo in Susan Lenox (Her Fall And Rise) - Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull A black and white photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull (American, 1896-1979), matte finish, double-weight paper, depicting a 1931 shot of Swedish/American actress Greta Garbo (Swedish, 1905-1990) on the set of the film Susan Lenox (Her Fall And Rise) directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Greta Garbo poses in a hat, her hand resting on her face, while gazing into the camera. Printed decades later from the original negative, penciled in the lower left corner "A.P.," Estate stamped and blind embossed in the lower right corner "Clarence Sinclair Bull," further blind embossed in same corner "The Kobal / Collection," on verso with the photographer's black ink credit stamp and with "Edward Weston" black ink credit stamps dated "1981" and "1992," originally from the John Kobal Collection. Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic characters, and her subtle and understated performances. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on its list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Clarence Sinclair Bull was born in Sun River, Montana, in 1896. His career began when Samuel Goldwyn hired him in 1920 to photograph publicity stills of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio's stars. He is most famous for his photographs of Greta Garbo, taken between 1926 and 1941. Bull's first portrait of Garbo was a costume study for the silent romantic drama film Flesh and the Devil in September 1926. Bull was able to study with the great Western painter...
Category

1930s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

Portrait of a Young Girl
By Richard Dooner
Located in Soquel, CA
Silver Bromide photographic portrait of a young girl by Philadelphia photographer, Richard T. Dooner (American, 1878-1954). A fine portrait of...
Category

Early 20th Century Photorealist Figurative Photography

Materials

Ink, Photographic Paper

Greta Garbo - Black and White Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1930
By Clarence Sinclair Bull
Located in Soquel, CA
Greta Garbo - Black and White Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1930 1930 Black and white portrait photograph of Swedish/American actress Greta Garbo (Swedish, 1905-1990) by Clarence Sinclair Bull (American, 1896-1979). Greta Garbo poses in a top hat and collard shirt while gazing away from the camera. Printed by the artist circa 1970's. A black and white photograph, matte finish, double-weight paper, depicting a 1931 shot of the star titled 'Mata Hari,' printed decades later from the original negative, pencilled in the lower left corner "A.P.," Estate stamped and blind embossed in the lower right corner "Clarence Sinclair Bull," further blind embossed in same corner "The Kobal / Collection," verso with the photographer's black ink credit stamp, verso further with two "Edward Weston" black ink credit stamps dated "1981" and "1992," originally from the John Kobal Collection. Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic characters, and her subtle and understated performances. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on its list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Clarence Sinclair Bull was born in Sun River, Montana, in 1896. His career began when Samuel Goldwyn hired him in 1920 to photograph publicity stills of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio's stars. He is most famous for his photographs of Greta Garbo, taken between 1926 and 1941. Bull's first portrait of Garbo was a costume study for the silent romantic drama film Flesh and the Devil in September 1926. Bull was able to study with the great Western painter...
Category

1930s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

"Portrait of MiKyoung with Camera" - Silver Gelatin Photograph
Located in Soquel, CA
"Portrait of MiKyoung with Camera" - Silver Gelatin Photograph - Edition (5) Dramatic black and white portrait of a woman by Dale Sparage (American, b. 1954). A woman named MiKyoung is standing, wearing a dark dress and furry hat. She is holding two bird of paradise flowers and looking directly at the camera. Off to the left, there is a vintage camera at the edge of the frame. Artist's information on verso. Presented in a white mat and a black aluminum frame. Frame size: 20.5"H x 16.25"W Image size: 9"H x 9"W Dale Sparage (American, b. 1954) is a photographer and artist from Detroit, Michigan. She completed her BFA with honors from York University in Canada, and an MFA in painting from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. She has taught at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, University of Michigan, and The School for Visual Arts at the Toledo Museum of Art. She is currently working on an MFA in Photography at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Her ongoing work on photographing women...
Category

Early 2000s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

1920's Historical Fashion Illustration of Lady in 17th Century Dress
Located in Soquel, CA
Finely detailed historical figurative fashion illustration painted in watercolor in 1921, of a lady in 17th century dress; complete with a full blac...
Category

1920s Realist Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Greta Garbo "Mata Hari" Film Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1931
By Clarence Sinclair Bull
Located in Soquel, CA
Greta Garbo "Mata Hari" Film Photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull, 1931 A black and white photograph, matte finish, double-weight paper, depicting a 1931 shot of the star titled 'Mata Hari,' printed decades later from the original negative, penciled in the lower left corner "A.P.," Estate stamped and blind embossed in the lower right corner "Clarence Sinclair Bull," further blind embossed in same corner "The Kobal / Collection," verso with the photographer's black ink credit stamp, verso further with two "Edward Weston" black ink credit stamps dated "1981" and "1992," originally from the John Kobal Collection. Greta Garbo was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses of all time, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic characters, and her subtle and understated performances. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on its list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Clarence Sinclair Bull was born in Sun River, Montana, in 1896. His career began when Samuel Goldwyn hired him in 1920 to photograph publicity stills of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio's stars. He is most famous for his photographs of Greta Garbo, taken between 1926 and 1941. Bull's first portrait of Garbo was a costume study for the silent romantic drama film Flesh and the Devil in September 1926. Bull was able to study with the great Western...
Category

1930s Photorealist Portrait Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper, Silver Gelatin

You May Also Like

Old days Photo - Painting of a Lady Lady - Vintage Photo - Early 20th century
Located in Roma, IT
Old days Photo - Painting of a Lady is a black and white vintage photo, realized in the early 20th century. Good conditions and aged. It belongs to a historical and Nostalgic album...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Queen Elena of Italy- Vintage Photograph by Carlo Ferrari - Early 20th Century
By Carlo Ferrari
Located in Roma, IT
Queen Elena of Italy is a vintage photo realized by Carlo Ferrari (Verona, 1813 - 1871), depicting one of his works. In fact this is a photograph of a work realized by the same Carl...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

The Lady - Vintage Photograph - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
The Lady is a Photograph, Hand-dedicated on paper realized in 1910. Good conditions. With a Passepartout.
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portrait of Mrs. Gilles - Vintage Photo - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Mrs. Gilles is a  vintage photo, realized in the Early 20th Century.  The artwork is a well-balanced composition.
Category

Early 20th Century Contemporary Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Portrait of Lady - Photograph - Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Portrait of Lady is a Vintage Photograph in the early 20th Century by Debenham Gould in Glen View Studio. With a Greenish Passepartout and Cover wrote: Debenham Gould, Glen View Stu...
Category

Early 20th Century Modern Figurative Photography

Materials

Photographic Paper

Mae Murray in "The Merry Widow"
By Clarence Sinclair Bull
Located in New York, NY
Stamped by the photographer's studio.
Category

1920s Black and White Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin