February 2022 Auction Ends Thursday, February 24th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/24/2022
Charming collection of four drawings by illustrator Frederick Stuart Church, who was particularly known for his artful depiction of animals. Church demonstrates those skills in this collection, a set of four drawings sketched within four different letters to his pen pal Frances T. Brown. In addition to the letters, lot also includes a signed print of his painting ''The Viking's Daughter'', signed and titled by Church, and then additionally signed on the mat, ''Compliments of the Artist F.S. Church''.
First letter, on Church's personal stationery, is dated 9 May 1923 with an illustration of a man holding up an elephant on its head, with a vulture standing behind him. Church composes a poem in the letter and also writes, ''It's a dangerous thing to tell a poor artist to 'go out and have a good time'...to date I haven't try'd to do any stunts up at the Zoo where I was to day...F.S. Church''. Church would often visit the Central Park Zoo in New York to study animals for his illustrations.
Second letter, dated 13 May, is titled ''Ain't we got fun'', showing a bear playing the guitar. In the letter he writes, ''I am mailing you a Vikings Daughter a [?] reproduction, but not in the market. The original painting is owned in NY...a young woman by the sea tide and the gulls are talking to her - Don't ruin it by an elaborate frame...F.S. Church''.
Third letter dated 8 May 1922 shows a mouse at his easel, painting a portrait of a rabbit, with a bird in the background. The fourth letter includes a color illustration in fountain pen and crayon of a blue bird standing on a jar of ''Mrs. Brown's Preserves'', with Church writing ''This your Valentine, size of Blue Bird...'' Lot also includes a letter written by John B. Day, shortly after Church died in 1924, describing the artist's final days and mentioning Church's fondness for Brown.
Letters, composed in fountain pen, vary in size with the last two single sheets measuring 5.375'' x 7''. Single fold through each, else near fine. First two letters on bifolium stationery measure approximately 5.5'' x 7''. Single fold, else near fine. Signed print of ''The Vikings Daughter'' mounted to the signed mat, measures 7.125'' x 12.875''. Near fine condition.
Collection of Four Animal Drawings by Illustrator Frederick Stuart Church Within a Group of Letters
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