Greg Mank has asked me to post this news from Heritage
Galleries in Dallas:
Rolf Armstrong Frankenstein Painting Finds Home at Rockwell Museum
Heritage Auction Galleries Facilitates Donation
DALLAS, TEXAS: A rare portrait of Boris Karloff in his full Frankenstein makeup, rendered by well-known illustration artist Rolf
Armstrong, now has a permanent home in the Rockwell Museum, located in Stockbridge, MA, thanks to Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries.
"This painting had been in a private collection for many years," said Grey Smith,
Director of Vintage Movie Poster Auctions for Heritage, "and when the owner passed away, we contacted the estate and offered to auction the piece for
them. They were amenable, but told us that a condition of the owner's will required the painting to be given to a museum."
Doug Norwine, Heritage's Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions, continues, "We
arranged for the painting to be loaned to the Rockwell Museum, with the idea of auctioning it after an appropriate period of time. As it turns out, this
marvelous piece has proven so popular that the museum has elected to keep it in their permanent collection. We are truly honored to have played a small part in
the recovery, and now the permanent display, of this historic treasure."
Rolf Armstrong (1899-1960), widely hailed as "the father of the American pin-up," was an
important illustration artist whose work adorned countless calendars, magazines, and sheet music covers during the first half of the twentieth century. He
captured the images of such top stars as Mary Pickford, Marlene Dietrich, Katharine Hepburn, and Greta Garbo, and even persuaded Boris Karloff to pose for him
on the set of Bride of Frankenstein (1935), resulting in this incredible portrait. For years, fans of the
Golden Age of Universal Horror have speculated that this iconic work was forever "lost to the ages," an assumption now happily shown to be false.
"We're pleased that this painting has found such a good home," said Smith, "and
that it will now be available to the general public to see and enjoy for many years to come."
Heritage Auction Galleries is the world's third largest auction house, and by far the largest
auctioneer of rare collectibles, with annual sales over $600 million, and 375,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage's
auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
