1522

COLES PHILLIPS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:5,000.00 - 7,000.00 USD
COLES PHILLIPS
"Midshipmite" the original of one of Phillips' most popular illustrations

(1880 - 1927) American artist and illustrator. In 1907, Phillips met with J. A. Mitchell, the publisher of Life magazine, and was hired onto its staff. Phillips would be associated with the magazine throughout his life. The work of Phillips quickly became popular with Life's readers. In May 1908, he created a cover for the magazine that featured his first "fadeaway girl": a figure whose clothing matched, and disappeared into, the background. Phillips developed this idea in many subsequent covers. Phillips' use of negative space allowed the viewer to "fill-in" the image. Phillips also produced cover art for Good Housekeeping, and advertising images. His works also appear in the 1921 and 1922 editions of the U. S. Naval Academy yearbook, Lucky Bag. An original Phillips piece, the printed outline of one of his most famous images, "Midshipmite", hand-colored by Phillips, 20 1/2" x 27 1/2" (sight), framed, and recovered from his home in New Rochelle, NY. The image, known to every fan of Phillips' work, depicts a demure young lady wrapped in an oversized sailor's great coat, offset by her petite feet crossed at the bottom. Her figure is framed by an inverted sea-green triangle in the background with two seagulls facing each other at top, signed "C. COLES PHILLIPS" at upper-right. At lower-right appears the seal of the U.S. Naval Academy, with the year of the publication of this image, "1912". There is no mistaking that this is a hand-colored image, and not a lithograph or other totally reproduced image. This piece was discovered in the Phillips' home in New Rochelle, New York where he died of tuberculosis at the age of 47. In 2010 our consignor, an art appraiser with fifty years' experience, was asked to appraise and receive on consignment various Phillips works which were owned by an elderly lady who had purchased Phillips home after his demise. Six original Phillips illustrations were consigned to him, along with three oil paintings by other artists which we believe are portrayals of Phillips' brother, sister and father. The three oil paintings (only) are included in the lot, though in rough, damaged condition. "Midshipmite" is in far better condition: is does bear some slightly uneven toning below and to the right of the lady's neckline -- we presume this is due to the effects of some exposure to sunlight and perhaps a competent art restorer could lessen this effect. Besides the above, this image bears two tiny specks near the bottom but is in otherwise fine condition. This image may have been used by Phillips as the "original" from which all other color images have emanated. With notarized letter of provenance from the art appraiser, our consignor.

Estimate: $5,000 - 7,000.

Download Our Current PDF Auction Catalog

Part I: Lots 1-979 - September 27th, 2012

Part II: Lots 980-1845 - September 28th, 2012