A classic Gil Elvgren pin-up entitled Bare Essentials has sold at the top of Heritage Auctions' July 31 Illustration Art Signature Auction in Dallas.
 Elvgren was a commercial success during his lifetime. Bare Essentials (above) typifies his artistic output |
The stunning piece was originally published as part of the 1957 Brown & Bigelow calendar. An oil on canvas work, it sold for an impressive $137,000 - an 82.6% increase on its $75,000 estimate.
Gil Elvgren (1914-1980) is perhaps the most respected pin-up artist in history. Studying at the American Academy of Art, he is best known for his work for Brown & Bigelow, a US advertising company that has employed a range of top illustrators, including Norman Rockwell.
The female form dominated the top sales at Heritage, with a classic example of Patrick Nagel's art deco-inspired work bringing the second highest bids at $93,750.
 Nagel has also created works for Playboy and pop group Duran Duran |
Entitled Casual Pose, the work is a superb representation of Nagel's inimitable style, which has previously graced the pages of Playboy magazine and Duran Duran's cover for the best-selling album Rio.
Also starring was Norman Rockwell's The Family Doctor, an interior illustration for the April 12, 1947 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. Created at the height of his career, the piece made $40,625.
Paul Fraser Collectibles has some fantastic art collectibles for sale in our online store, including this fantastic piece from Winnie-the-Pooh creator EH Shepard.
