John and Therese Wright's Copy of Desclozeaux

The Institut français du Royaume-Uni in South Kensington held an exhibition of work by French cartoonist Jean-Pierre Desclozeaux in January and February of 1982. It was the artist's first showing in England. The exhibit featured a sampling of the artist's vibrant watercolors. The catalogue has an appreciative introduction by Ronald Searle. John and Therese Wright's copy has some foxing on the cover, but it boasts an inscription by the artist in multicolored pencil.

The Institut français du Royaume-Uni, London
Desclozeaux, 1982

Slightly foxed—but still desirable

Spine view

Inscription by Jean-Pierre Desclozeaux

"Apropos Desclozeaux" by Ronald Searle

Desclozeaux
eBay Listing Ended November 18, 2019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/034-DESCLOZEAUX-034-SIGNED-1982-EXHIBITION-CATALOGUE-INSTITUT-FRANCAIS-LONDON-/392530998969?ul_noapp=true&autorefresh=true&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Desclozeaux
eBay Item Description

eBay Bid History
One stealthy bid at the auction close.

Note:  I'm almost certain that perfectly-centered Searle signature is a printed one that appears in every copy of the catalogue. Anyone with a copy who can confirm or refute this should get in touch.

This is the first appearance of Jean-Pierre Desclozeaux on Attempted Bloggery. Readers with examples of his original art are encouraged to share them here by submitting scans or photos.

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Hats Off to Peter Arno!

Cartoonist Peter Arno was born on this day in 1904. He was better than perhaps anyone at incorporating the City's bustling nightlife into his cartoon world. In 2012, Heritage Auctions sold the original artwork to one of his classic New Yorker cabaret cartoons for $5,625 including the buyer's premium.

Heritage has a fairly unique post-auction feature called Make Offer to Owner with which the new owners can signal their willingness to entertain offers from interested parties who themselves wish to buy the artwork, with the auction house acting as the broker. Within just three days of the close of this auction then, two offers were received, the highest one for a very healthy $9,000. If accepted, that would have been quite a tidy profit for three days, but then, of course, the owner would have had to give up an amazing Peter Arno original the likes of which, well, to paraphrase the cartoonist, one doesn't see often these days.

Peter Arno, "It isn't often one sees a bowler these days."
Original artwork for the New Yorker, August 9, 1952, p. 22

Peter Arno's signature

Peter Arno, "It isn't often one sees a bowler these days."
Original artwork for the New Yorker, August 9, 1952, p. 22

The presale estimate was $2,000 to $3,000.

http://fineart.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=5087&lotNo=78271#83968396204

Peter Arno, "It isn't often one sees a bowler these days."
The New Yorker, August 9, 1952, p. 22

Note:  Shouldn't someone have a Peter Arno blog? Yes, of course. If I had one, this is what it might look like.

News about Peter Arno is on Ink Spill here.

Some of Peter Arno's New Yorker work may be seen in the Condé Nast store here.

Catch a glimpse of the Arno collection of Harry's Bar here.

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