Ronald Searle: Leasing with Lloyd's

On June 21 at Lyon & Turnbull's auction house in Edinburgh, the American Peter Arno's cartoon art was scooped up for 900 GBP, more than its high estimate, while Englishman Ronald Searle's charming illustration for Lloyd's Bank offered in the following lot failed to find a buyer. The Searle advertising art had an estimate of 700 to 1,000 GBP, actually lower than its 2001 Christie's South Kensington estimate of 800 to 1,200 GBP. Twenty-two years ago it sold for a healthy 940 GBP. 

Ronald Searle
Lyon & Turnbull listing ended June 21, 2023

https://www.lyonandturnbull.com/auction/lot/lot-164---ronald-searle-cbe-rdi-1920-2011/?lot=272017&so=4&st=Ronald%20Searle&sto=0&au=&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=1&pp=96&pn=1&g=1

The sale at Christie's was held in 2001:

https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-2070084

https://www.christies.com/search?entry=Ronald%20Searle%20leasing&page=1&sortby=relevance&tab=sold_lots

December 31, 2023 Update:  Sold!

Note:  Now who wouldn't want to see all of Ronald Searle's illustrations for Lloyd's Bank? All you need to do is check out the recent post in Matt Jones's indispensable Searle tribute blog here.

If you somehow missed my post on the Peter Arno cartoon, also in the June 21 sale, it's just a click away here.

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Campaign Stop: Arthur Getz Preliminary New Yorker Cover Art

Arthur Getz's preliminary cover art for The New Yorker issue of October 1, 1960 depicts the height of the campaign season during a presidential election year. The candidate at the top of the boarding stairs is indistinct, but he doesn't especially resemble either Nixon or Kennedy, the Republican and Democratic nominees, respectively, for the presidency. The actual published cover zooms in on the candidate but his features remain blurry; the colors are more muted and the activity on the ground largely eliminated. For some, therefore, the bold preliminary art offered at auction in Atlanta on January 14 may be more visually satisfying than the actual published cover.

The title noted on an information sheet accompanying the work, Hail to the Chief, seems out of place. Eisenhower was still finishing up his second term as president, and he was the only person this anthem would have been appropriate for. The auction house's notion that the aircraft depicted is Air Force One seems questionable for the same reason. Both Nixon and Kennedy campaigned by air in 1960 as did numerous candidates for lower office, no doubt.

Arthur Getz
Preliminary cover art
The New Yorker, October 1, 1960

Arthur Getz's signature

Arthur Getz
Preliminary cover art
The New Yorker, October 1, 1960

Before the sale, the painting was given an auction house estimate of $3,000 to $5,000, with online bidding set to start at $1,500.

Arthur Getz
AbeBooks listing accessed January 7, 2022

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/arthur-getz-hail-to-the-chief-illustration-1489-c-e404a7da35?objectID=176500267&algIndex=upcoming_lots_prod&queryID=fc9b8cf31269321d87572b49679a469f

The hammer price was $2,000—or $2,500 with the buyer's premium.

Arthur Getz
Preliminary cover art
The New Yorker, October 1, 1960

Arthur Getz

The New Yorker, October 1, 1960

Note:  Arthur Getz often made any number of preliminary versions of his New Yorker covers. I would like to hear from anyone in possession of other Getz variations on this cover theme. 

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My Entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #606

Fly the friendly skies of my entry in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #606 for March 5, 2018. The drawing is by Benjamin Schwartz.

"Isn't that what Lyft is for?"

These captions would not straighten up and fly right:

"I guess I'll never understand the cloud."
"Why can't he go through the security line like everyone else?"
"Is this how you got around when you were a kid?"

March 12, 2018 Update:  The Finalists

March 24, 2018 Update:  I voted for the third caption.


March 26, 2018 Update:  Winning Caption

Note:  Last week, cartoonist Robert Leighton
framed the visitors to a museum. My caption did not make art history. Pay the suggested admission price—mandatory if you're from out of state—and visit Contest #605.

Can you name the number one Caption Contest cartoonist on Attempted Bloggery? I'll give you a hint: Benjamin Schwartz.

Attempted Bloggery supports net neutrality.

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