Midnight Maestro: Charles Alston Original New Yorker Cover Art

Harlem Renaissance artist Charles Alston painted only one illustration that was used on the cover of The New Yorker. It graced the issue of October 6, 1934. The original art was sold yesterday at Toomey & Co. Auctioneers of Chicago.

A janitor is shown on stage conducting an imaginary orchestra after hours.

The presale estimate was $8,000 to $12,000, with bidding starting at $6,000.

Charles Henry Alston
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers listing accessed October 12, 2024

https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/charles-alston-cover-illustration-for-the-new-yor-114-c-24844738e9?objectID=192265776&algIndex=upcoming_lots_lotNumber_asc_prod&queryID=8eefb851c9952ac2ffa11abbe66a00bb

The artwork was in the collection of Alfred and Martha Montgomery Newman. Alfred Newman was a major Hollywood composer.

Charles Henry Alston
Toomey & Co. Auctioneers listing accessed October 13, 2024

https://www.toomeyco.com/auctions/2024/10/fine-art/114

Charles Henry Alston
The New Yorker, October 6, 1934

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1934-10-06/flipbook/CV1/

Charles Henry Alston
Original cover art
The New Yorker, October 6, 1934

Sold!

Hammer price

Price including the buyer's premium

Charles Alston

Alfred Newman

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Ronald Searle: Mr. Lemon Hart Conducts

Ronald Searle's 1950's-era British advertising campaign for Lemon Hart Rum was extremely successful. His illustrations featured Mr. Lemon Hart, easily recognized by his elongated limbs and his lemon-colored suit. Original art of Mr. Lemon Hart conducting an orchestra was offered at Sotheby's London on July 18. The lot was given a presale estimate of 2,000 to 3,000 GBP. It did not find a buyer.

Ronald Searle
Sotheby's Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern, July 18, 2023, lot 295

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/books-and-manuscripts-medieval-to-modern/ronald-searle-illustration-for-lemon-hart-rum

Ronald Searle
Sotheby's lot description
"Searle contributed to Lemon Hart Rum advertising campaigns for eleven years, between 1955 and 1962." How's that again? The ads started in 1951.

Note:  For information on the long-running ad campaign, the definitive source is Perpetua, the Ronald Searle Tribute blog, right here. At this writing, the artwork and its corresponding print ad is not included in Matt Jones's comprehensive post. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who can locate a published version.

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The Orchestra: Jean-Jacques Sempé Preliminary New Yorker Cover Art

Pencil notations on a rough submitted to The New Yorker by French artist Jean-Jacques Sempé in the early 1980s show the magazine's effective editorial hand at work. Does this or any rough drawing really need to be labeled "Rough?" Probably not, but the real question is whether this outstanding cartoon of an orchestra, if accepted, should have been published as a drawing inside the magazine or as a cover. Fortunately, the answer is spelled out: "Yes, for cover."

The New Yorker's art editor Lee Lorenz, from whose estate this preliminary drawing comes, makes an important contribution himself. He notes that the percussionist at the end of the line of appreciative musicians should be a "man with arms folded." The not-quite-right words are crossed out and instead Lorenz apparently sketches the hands-clasped gesture he wants right on the original! That is, as Sempé might have said, the pièce de résistance.

Jean-Jacques Sempé
Fairfield Auction listing of May 7, 2023

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/151008932_jean-jacques-sempe-the-orchestra-22-x-18-pen-and-ink-signed-lower-right-unframed-annotated

Jean-Jacques Sempé
The New Yorker, March 12, 1984

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1984-03-12/flipbook/CV1/

There is a variant version created for the French market with an unnecessarily specific title. The snare drummer's hands remain clasped together as they were on the cover of The New Yorker.

L'ensemble instrumental Paul Poulignot

https://www.chairish.com/product/6531322/sempe-jean-jacques-poster-lensemble-instrumental-paul-polignot

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