Peter Arno: Duet at the Organ

A work of original New Yorker cartoon art from 1932 depicts a wealthy man and his servant seated at the organ. It recently surfaced on eBay, where it received seven bids and was sold. Peter Arno, the artist, created a trove of cartoons which, like this one, still maintain their impact today. If you were to go back just ten years earlier to, say, 1922, you would be hard-pressed to find a cartoon by anyone that holds up this well.

"Now Chopsticks!"
Peter Arno
Framed original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1932, p. 14

Arno carried this drawing by sea to London where it was exhibited in December of that year at the Leicester Galleries, catalogue number 71. According to a notation on the label, it was purchased by one W. G. Eyre, Esq. Eventually it found its way to Carmel, California, according to the eBay seller.

"Now Chopsticks!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1932, p. 14

Large detail

Catalogue number 71 from the Leicester Galleries show

Peter Arno
eBay listing accessed April 22, 2024, six and a half days before the sale ended

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276434890681?mkpid=0&emsid=e11021.m43.l1120&ch=osgood&euid=fae9f20e37ae447287a9409017a57cde&bu=43186000575&ut=RU&osub=-1%7E1&crd=20240422013622&segname=11021

Peter Arno
eBay item description. The date of the New Yorker issue is off by three weeks.

Peter Arno
More eBay item description business

Sold!

"Now Chopsticks!"
Peter Arno
The New Yorker, October 8, 1932, p. 14

"Now Chopsticks!"
Peter Arno
Original art
The New Yorker, October 8, 1932, p. 14

With a cartoon by Peter Arno and a spot drawing

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1932-10-08/flipbook/014/

How did the drawing end up stateside? A 1955 photograph from the Denver Post may hold a hint. It shows a Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Eyre and daughter Jane at a reception for the British Ambassador. Perhaps W. G. specialized in international trade and had legal work that brought him to Great Britain in 1932 where he bought the cartoon and later brought him to a cocktail party for the British Ambassador.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/guests-at-cocktail-party-
the-thomas-tulls-gave-saturday-news-photo/162374602?adppopup=true

Note:  Here in the states, Time magazine covered Peter Arno's exhibition at the Leicester Galleries. It's here, in case you missed it in 1932.

In 2016, I covered the show in my own way, trying to identify ten of the exhibition's cartoons captured in a publicity photo of Arno. You can read that one here.

I'm still looking to find a catalogue from that Arno show. It's only been 91 years. What's taking so long?

In the meantime, I'd like to hear from collectors with other original Arnos still bearing labels from the Leicester Galleries show.

I can't quite make out the signature of the New Yorker's spot artist who drew the flamenco dancer. Is it Binder? Or does it start with an M? Drop me a line if you recognize the artist. Or can dance the flamenco.

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