Illustrations & Prints – Pamplin Collection

Where’d You Spend the Night, Jubilo?

Myrian Cavalli — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:47:52 +0000

by W.H.D. Koerner (American, born in Germany, 1878-1938)

This painting illustrated a story by Ben Williams in the June 28, 1919, issue of the Saturday Evening Post. It told the story of a Hispanic field hand suspected of sleeping with the wife of a farmer. The painting that illustrated it, exhibited here, depicts Jubilo being questioned by the sheriff and his deputies, with the farmer standing behind Jubilo and the wife on the porch. The painting is the work of W.H.D. Koerner, a renowned master illustrator of the American West. Koerner ranked with Remington and Russell among western painters and his work illustrated stories and covers of all the major magazines of the 1920s and 30s.

Santa Fe Rides (1937)

Myrian Cavalli — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 16:52:44 +0000

The Transcontinental Broadcasting Company sends a sound truck and equipment to a ranch to obtain an audition from “Santa Fe” Evans and his musical cowboys (Oscar Gahan, Lloyd Perryman, Robert “Curley” Hoag, Rudy Sooter and Sherry Tansey.) Carver, arch enemy of Evans and a rival for the love of Carol Sheldon, fails in an attempt to spoil the audition.

Carver frames Mr. Sheldon and Carol’s brother Buddy on a charge, by Al Jensen, of receiving cattle stolen from him by Evans. Carver blames Evans for all of the Sheldon’s troubles and, what with one thing or another, it looks like Evans and his cowhands will miss the big broadcast. Written by Les Adams. Part of a collection of early film posters and lobby cards numbering into the hundreds.

Gun Play (1935)

Myrian Cavalli — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 18:31:03 +0000

Intercepting Holt’s mail, Meeker learns a gold treasure is somewhere on the Holt ranch and he sees the clue to its location. When he solves the puzzle he learns the treasure location can be found in the boots. But he earlier discarded the supposedly worthless boots and seeing Bill Williams now wearing them, he and his men go after Williams. Written by Maurice VanAuken

Cowboys from Texas (1939)

Myrian Cavalli — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 18:28:05 +0000

Texas has opened up land for homesteaders. Clay Allison wants their land and has his men led by Plummer try to start a range war between them and the ranchers. With each side suspecting the other of their problems, the Mesquiteers realize someone else is responsible. Stony suspects Plummer and fakes leaving the Mesquiteers to join Plummer’s gang hoping to find out who it is. Written by Maurice VanAuken.

Cover illustration for the 1960 edition of the book, The World, the Flesh, and Father Smith

Myrian Cavalli — Fri, 29 May 2020 15:50:12 +0000

by Robert Maguire (American, 1921-2005)

Set in a small town in Scotland, the book—a fictional novel by the Scottish writer Bruce Marshall—tells the story of Father Smith and a group of exiled French nuns. (The reprint next to the painting is of the cover of the original publication, 1945.) The artist Robert Maguire, a twentieth-century American illustrator was known for his crime noir paperback cover art, producing artwork for over 600 covers over the span of his career.

“Big Eyes” Child

Myrian Cavalli — Tue, 26 May 2020 14:43:00 +0000

by Margaret Keane (American, 1927-)

Keane’s works are recognizable by the oversized, doe-like eyes of her subjects. In the 1960s, her artwork was sold under the name of her husband, Walter Keane, who claimed credit for it. On November 1, 1964, she left him and moved from San Francisco.

In 1970, Keane announced that she was the creator of the paintings and sued Walter in federal court for slander, the judge famously ordered both Margaret and Walter to each create a big-eyed child painting there in the courtroom in order to determine who was telling the truth. Walter declined, citing a sore shoulder, whereas she completed her painting in 53 minutes. After a three-week trial, the jury awarded her $4 million in damages.