Today’s Cleveland Antiquarian Book & Paper Show preview comes courtesy of Hoffman Books of Columbus, specializing in “Americana, Literature, Travel, Science, Photography, Ohio.”
Venus Surprised by Satyrs in the Midst of a Bacchanalian Dance
(Pen and black ink over pencil, on Whatman artboard, 355 x 560mm. [14 x 22 in], signed and dated lower right, 1939)
by James Thurber (1894-1961)
The drawing was originally exhibited in a show called “Paraphrases” at the Storran Gallery in London in 1939. It is a “spoof” of two famous erotic paintings by Poussin which hang in the National Gallery. The entire frame is filled with wonderful Thurber men and women (in reckless and naked abandon!), and a couple of Thurber dogs. Original works by Thurber of this size and quality are scarce. Price is $17,500.
Click on any of the smaller images to enlarge.
This is wonderful, Ed. If I get lucky and sell my Jerome Kern telegram to Hildegarde regarding “The Last Time I Saw Paris” that I priced at an outrageous $3700, I might consider buying yours. I love it.
See you Sunday.
Sue
Thanks Sue — I’m rooting for you!!
Looking forward to the show — see you soon.
Ed