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| Naomi Johnson Ziegfeld Follies Portraits |
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| Artist: | Alfred Cheney Johnston & John Knowles Hare |
| Date: | 1920s |
| Medium: | Gelatin silver photograph and pastel on illustration board |
| Dimensions: | Pastel sight size 12" x 16" framed 21 1/2" x 26 1/2" Photograph 11" x 14" |
| Condition: | Excellent |
| Original Use: | Ziegfeld Follies Promotional Material |
| Price: | $4500.00 for the pair
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| Above: Full view of the pastel of Follies beauty Naomi Johnson |
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| Above: Large format Alfred Cheney Johnston photograph |
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| Above: The artist's signature lower right |
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| Above: Detail of John Knowles Hare pastel |
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| Above: Detail of Alfred Cheney Johnston photograph |
From the estate of legendary Ziegfeld Follies photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston we are delighted to offer this pair of portraits of Follies showgirl Naomi Johnston. Noted illustrator J. Knowles Hare was commissioned by impresario Flo Ziegfeld to create pastel illustrations of his glorified American girls as they were captured by photographer A.C. Johnston, and both the finished pastel of a risque yet demure Naomi Johnson and the original 1920s photograph are included with sale. The pastel is in a handsome silver gallery frame behind glass with original french matting, elegantly capturing the dazzling beauty of both the model and Johnston's photograph to full effect.
Naomi Johnson was one of the most popular Ziegfeld girls of the jazz age, performing in the Follies and associated musical comedies from 1922 until her retirement in 1930. She was considered to be Alfred Cheney Johnston's favorite model, and began posing nude for him in her uninhibited teenage years. Her statuesque draped nude photographs are among Johnston's most famous images.
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| Above: Framed and matted behind glass view of pastel |
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| Above: Frame profile and original french matting on Hare pastel |
John Knowles Hare 1909 - 1978
Was an American Illustrator and coastal New England Painter of portraits, landscapes and marine scenes. Considered the Dean of Cape Cod artists Hare was masterful in both oil and watercolor painting. He was also a very prolific cover artist and illustrator, creating glamour girl prints for many of the leading calendar companies, usually in pastel, but also in pencils and oils. He did covers for Woman's Home Companion, American Magazine, This Week, The Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman, Ladies' Home Journal, Photoplay, Modern Priscilla and Harper's Weekly. The artist's association with the photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston was previously undocumented.
The remaining contents of Johnston's photography studio and estate were recently sold at a Connecticut auction house after being left untouched for over 50 years. Alfred Cheney Johnston collected in his life and had in his possession original paintings by leading early 20th century illustrators including Alphonse Mucha and W.T. Benda, he also collected decorative ceramics and Asian themed prints and etchings. His library too was extraordinary, filled with illustrated first edition rarities and author signed and inscribed to Johnston copies. It was one of the most interesting assembled auction groupings we have witnessed, and literally a time capsule of early 20th century opulence and artistry.
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