On Monday evening, an original book illustration by cartoonist William Steig was sold by Kensington Estate Auctions. It appears in Will Cuppy's humorous 1950 book The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody. The illustration is the second to accompany the chapter "Pericles."
We see a Greek woman reclining contentedly on a divan. Above her, a boyish angelic face hovers, with wings but no body. The woman might be Aspasia, the companion of Pericles discussed in the chapter. She is certainly not Cleopatra, whatever the writing on the back of the art, as the drawing does not appear in her chapter. Steig seems to be following his own muse rather than Cuppy's text.
Eighteen days before the sale, there was already a bid of $100.
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| William Steig Kensington Estate Auctions listing accessed June 5, 2025 |
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| William Steig Kensington Estate Auctions item description |
Sold!
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| The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody (1950, 2002) Will Cuppy Part II: Ancient Greeks and Worse "Pericles" Pages 34-35 |
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