Patrick Nagel (American, 1945–1984), “Lady Standing on Statue of Liberty,” #326 and PN977, acrylic on canvas, 33 by 25 inches. Provenance: Mirage Editions, Inc, Santa Monica, Calif., acquired by the present owner from the above, 1984 ($70/90,000).

 
NEW YORK CITY — Patrick Nagel’s stylish, bold homage to New York City, “Lady Standing on Statue of Liberty,” is expected to bring $70/90,000 or more when it comes to auction on October 14, as the centerpiece of Heritage Auctions’ illustration art Signature auction at the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion, 2 East 79th Street at Fifth Avenue.

“Nagel is an artist whose popularity and market continue to soar,” said Ed Jaster, senior vice president at Heritage Auctions, “and this painting amply demonstrates why. Nagel created it for his last major gallery show in New York. As an homage to the city, he has the subject leaning on the ironwork from the Statue of Liberty’s torch.”

Led by pin-up and science fiction art, the auction highlights run the entire gamut of the illustration art spectrum, including a masterpiece from the king, Gil Elvgren, in the form of “Bear Facts (A Modest Look; Bearback Rider),” Brown & Bigelow calendar illustration, 1962, one of his all-time greatest and most popular pieces ($100/150,000).

“This painting is so admired among Elvgren’s body of work that it was reproduced as the dust jacket cover for an edition of the definitive volume Gil Elvgren All His Glamorous American Pin-Ups by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel,” said Todd Hignite, vice president at Heritage Auctions.

Elvgren is also represented in the auction by his 1948 canvas, “I’m Just Trying it for Sighs,” another great Brown & Bigelow calendar illustration, an example from the artist’s earlier period ($30/50,000). The great Enoch Bolles makes an appearance in the auction with “Kick Up your Legs,” Breezy magazine cover, December 1936, an unmistakable painting that comes to Heritage via The Bob and Diane Yaspan collection ($30/50,000).

Gil Elvgren (American, 1914–1980), “Bear Facts (A Modest Look; Bearback Rider),” Brown & Bigelow calendar illustration, 1962, oil on canvas, 30 by 24 inches ($100/150,000).

A fantastic example from Leroy Neiman comes in the form of “Some Sun Fun,” 1970, an exuberant oil painting ($30/50,000) that will further bolster Neiman’s place with modern collectors.

A special session of the auction is devoted to the Frank collection of science fiction and fantasy art, a selection that spans the history of the increasingly popular and sought-after genres. A highlight is Alex Schomburg’s “Death of Iron,” Wonder Story Annual cover, 1952 ($10/15,000).

Greatness is also in evidence in the auction from the world of children’s book art as a page of original art, page 7 from Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline in London, circa 1960–61, for what will surely be a key painting in an advanced collection ($12/18,000).

Further highlights include Robert Theodore McCall’s, “Pioneering the Space Frontier No. 8,” 1986, oil on canvas ($15/25,000), a beautiful space scene reproduced as a two-page spread in the book The Art of Robert McCall by Ray Bradbury; George Rozen, “The Blackmail Ring,” The Shadow magazine cover, August 1932, oil on canvas ($10/15,000); and Tom Lovell (American), “Day of Yellow Flowers,” McCall’s magazine interior story illustration, April 1956, gouache on board ($6/8,000).

For additional information, www.ha.com or 877-437-4824.