MastroNet Spring 2005
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
4/14/2005
Offered is the finest known image—a reproduction of James Montgomery Flagg's masterful work—boldly signed by Swedish-born actress Greta Garbo (1905-1991). The enigmatic Garbo's haunting qualities were well-employed in tragic roles. After coming to America, she became the Hollywood love goddess of the 1920's and 1930's, but adopted an impenetrable, reclusive character following the failure of a 1941 film, Two-Faced Woman. (Among her best-known pictures are Camille, Ninotchka and Anna Karenina.) Genuine articles of presentable quality, scripted by this much-discussed figure of fabled luminosity, are exceedingly rare. This 10" x 13" rendering is a reproduction of a Garbo sketch created by the renowned artist James Montgomery Flagg—the painter perhaps best known for his "I Want YOU" recruiting poster featuring Uncle Sam. The minimally EX/MT piece has been vividly signed and inscribed, "To Arthur - Greta Garbo," in bright orange artist's marker at the lower left corner (grading "9-10"). On the reverse, the surname "Hornblow" appears in pencil; this refers to the original recipient of the inscribed showpiece, whose provenance includes recent ownership by the Rauner Special Collections Library at Dartmouth College. In November of 2004, a smaller and less-impressive illustration of Garbo realized nearly $18,000 in a prominent, national auction. LOAs from James Spence & Steve Grad and John Reznikoff/PSA DNA.
Boldly Signed and Extremely Scarce James Montgomery Flagg Portrait Print of Greta Garbo
Click above for larger image.