Jun 20, 2024 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen
558
A rare early Al Hirschfeld lithograph depicting Supreme Court justices, with annotation
Estate / Collection: The Estate of Frances Hershkowitz
AL HIRSCHFELD
Nine old Men of the Supreme Court. Lithograph, circa 1933, with pencil signature and annotations below the image, inscribed "To Arthur Hershkowitz/who defended me in/ my spinach case/Al Hirschfeld." Hirschfeld has also named the judges in pencil under the text "God save the United States and this honorable court." The frame verso with a loan label from an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. 12 x 19 inches. Framed. Toned.
This is a very rare, early Hirschfeld image of the Supreme Court in 1933, including Louis Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, and others. The subject is unusual for Hirschfeld, who usually avoided legal and political subjects. The print was published in Vanity Fair magazine in November 1933 and Hirschfeld is known to have revisited the subject in 1937. This example has the distinction of being exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in FDR: Portraits from the New Deal. The print is scarce, perhaps one of few extant. For an article discussing this print and the 2011 discovery of a lithograph depicting Justice Hughes, see David Leopold's article on the website of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation: https://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/news/new-hirschfeld-artwork-discovered
Sold for $3,200
Estimated at $800 - $1,200
Includes Buyer's Premium
Estate / Collection: The Estate of Frances Hershkowitz
AL HIRSCHFELD
Nine old Men of the Supreme Court. Lithograph, circa 1933, with pencil signature and annotations below the image, inscribed "To Arthur Hershkowitz/who defended me in/ my spinach case/Al Hirschfeld." Hirschfeld has also named the judges in pencil under the text "God save the United States and this honorable court." The frame verso with a loan label from an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian, Washington, D.C. 12 x 19 inches. Framed. Toned.
This is a very rare, early Hirschfeld image of the Supreme Court in 1933, including Louis Brandeis, Benjamin Cardozo, and others. The subject is unusual for Hirschfeld, who usually avoided legal and political subjects. The print was published in Vanity Fair magazine in November 1933 and Hirschfeld is known to have revisited the subject in 1937. This example has the distinction of being exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in FDR: Portraits from the New Deal. The print is scarce, perhaps one of few extant. For an article discussing this print and the 2011 discovery of a lithograph depicting Justice Hughes, see David Leopold's article on the website of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation: https://www.alhirschfeldfoundation.org/news/new-hirschfeld-artwork-discovered
Auction: Stage & Screen, Jun 20, 2024
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Successful Stage & Screen Auction on June 20, 2024 Surpasses Expectations!
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Fans and Collectors Drove Strong Prices for Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs of the Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's fourth Stage & Screen auction on June 20, 2024 attracted determined competition from collectors and fans around the world resulting in a sale total that surpassed expectations. Held in collaboration with the Entertainment Community Fund, these popular auctions offer artwork, memorabilia, props, autographs and photographs celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
Recognizing the importance of the performing arts to the fabric of New York, Doyle is proud to donate 10% of our profit from this auction to the Entertainment Community Fund.
Sale highlights include the 1953-54 Tony Award for Best Musical presented to Charles Lederer and Luther Davis for Kismet that achieved $15,360, far surpassing its $3,000-5,000 estimate. A writer associated with the Algonquin Round Table, Charles Lederer (1910-1976) was raised in Hollywood's inner circle and worked as a journalist for Hearst Newspapers before turning his talents to Broadway. Kismet won three Tony Awards that year and ran for a successful 583 performances.
The Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund)
Featured in the sale was a group of celebrity memorabilia presented by the Entertainment Community Fund. While a portion of proceeds from every item in the auction benefited the Fund, 100% of the hammer price of these lots goes entirely to the Entertainment Community Fund.
Highlighting the group was the heavily annotated master script for the 1972 first Broadway production of Pippin that soared past its $800-1,200 estimate to realize $6,080. The winner of five Tony Awards, Pippin opened at the Imperial Theater on Broadway on October 23, 1972 and ran for nearly two thousand performances before closing in June 1977. The show was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse with stage direction by Kathryn Doby who also served as Dance Captain and performed as a Player in the show.
Founded in 1882, the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund) is a national 501(c)(3) charitable organization for performing arts and entertainment professionals. The Fund helps address the specific needs of those in the industry, with a unique understanding of the challenges involved in a life in the arts. For further information on the Entertainment Community Fund, visit EntertainmentCommunity.org
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary auction evaluation. Our specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
For information, please contact
Memorabilia: Peter Costanzo, 212-427-4141, ext 248, Peter.Costanzo@Doyle.com
Artwork: Milan Tessler, 212-427-4141, ext 266, paintings@Doyle.com
