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Herman Van Kessel (Dutch, 1878-1967) Clark Gable Hollywood Portrait

A framed airbrushed Hollywood Portrait painting of Clark Gable by Herman Van Kessel. Signed in the lower right corner.

Dimensions: Painting - 18H x 14W inches, Frame - 30.5H x 26.5W inches

Exhibited Columbia College, CA 2010

Van Kessel was born in 1878 Ravenstein, Holland to a long lineage of artists going back to the 17th-century. From an early age he was trained in freehand drawing and oil painting until at 16, his family moved to the United States and settled in Minnesota. Working as a lumberjack, he saved enough money at 20-years old to move to Chicago and study art and air brush technique. In 1920, he moved and settled in Los Angeles, California to open his own studio downtown on 7th street working in conjunction with a photography studio featuring clients such as Loew’s Statem, Graumann’s Chinese, Hollywood Pantages, and RKO Theaters. In the mid to late 1930s, Van Kessel did not agree to join the union and as a result lost many of his employed artists and movie work, forcing him into working alone by 1940. He built his own studio behind his home in Glendale, California supporting himself off retouching photos for theater lobby display with great enhancement, earning the note as the best airbrush artist on the West Coast. The Herman Van Kessel collection of air brush portraits were painted during the last years of his career (1930-‘45).

Processing and shipping within the continental U.S. $70.00 plus 1.5% replacement cost insurance. Discounts given on combined lot shipping.

Provenance:Artist Inventory no. 1

Condition:Good. Some wear visible to the edges and corners or the frame and there are scratches on the portrait itself. Painting not examined out of frame. Please see photos.

Estimate: $100 - $250
Price Realized Including Buyer's Premium
$31
08/01/2024

 

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Annex Auctions strives to provide as much information and photographs as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders. Condition statements are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact and do not constitute a representation, warranty or assumption of liability by Annex Auctions. All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms and Conditions. Methods of payment are cash, check, money orders, card or wire transfer for foreign payments. This auction has a buyer's premium of 25%.