Monday, March 3, 2014

Ronald Searle: Two for the New York Times, Almost

These two illustrations by Ronald Searle for the New York Times are examples of just how good commercial illustrations can be. As it happens, they were never published, but that's not so unusual in the advertising business. I doubt the clients had any complaints with the quality of the artwork. These two originals were sold on May 20, 2011 at Skinner in Boston.

Ronald Searle was born on this day in 1920. He passed away late in 2011.

Lot 552 Ronald William Searle (British, b. 1920) 
Cat on a Raft Signed "Ronald Searle" l.l., stamped "Ronald Searle/ John Locke Studios Inc.... Drawing...Copyright © Ronald Searle 1986" on the reverse. Mixed media (watercolor, ink and graphite) on Vinci paper, 19 x 13 3/4 in. (48.3 x 34.9 cm), unframed.  Condition: Tape hinged to backing mat. 
N.B. The present work was a commissioned but unpublished image intended for the New York Times by the international ad agency, Bozell & Jacobs. 
Estimate $2,500-3,500  Sold for $2,963


Lot 555 Ronald William Searle (British, b. 1920) 
Horn of Plenty Signed "Ronald Searle" l.l., stamped "Ronald Searle/ John Locke Studios Inc.... Drawing...Copyright © Ronald Searle 1986" on the reverse. Mixed media (watercolor, ink, and graphite) on paper, 19 x 13 3/4 in. (48.3 x 34.9 cm), unframed. Condition: Tape hinged to backing mat. N.B. The present work was a commissioned but unpublished image intended for the New York Times by the international ad agency, Bozell & Jacobs. 
Estimate $2,500-3,500 Sold for $2,844





Note:  Further scattershot musings of mine on the art of Ronald Searle may be seen here.

Less scattershot is the Ronald Searle Tribute Blog which has quite a lot to say on the subject of Searle's advertising work, although it hasn't covered the New York Times campaign yet.

This is the final month to see "Searle in America," the exhibition of Ronald Searle's brilliant reportage work for the American magazine market at the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco. The show closes March 30 and I haven't even ordered my catalogue yet. Perhaps you can beat me to my copy here.

The Searle in America blog is dedicated to Ronald Searle's work for the U.S. market and can be seen here.


01070

No comments:

Post a Comment