Alberto Vargas (1896-1982)

Alberto Vargas (1896-1982) is widely regarded as the most famous of the pin-up artists. His early career included work as an artist for the Ziegfeld Follies and for many Hollywood studios. He became famous in the 1940s as the creator of iconic World War II era pin-ups for Esquire magazine known as "Varga Girls." In 1960s his career flourished again when Playboy magazine began to use his work as "Vargas Girls" and he had major exhibitions of his work all over the world.

His work was typically a combination of watercolor and airbrush. His mastery of the airbrush is acknowledged by the fact that the highest achievement in the community of airbrush artistry is the Vargas Award, awarded annually by Airbrush Action Magazine. Despite always using figure models, his images would often portray elegantly dressed, semi-nude to nude women of idealized proportions.

Alberto Vargas paintings are part of museums and private collections all over the world.

(1896-1982)

Title: Portrait of Beatrice Wolcott (1923)

Medium: Watercolor on artist board ("carton")

Condition: Good - see also the Certificate of Authenticity

Dimensions: Unframed without mat: 11.0" x 8.0" (27.8cm x 20.32cm) / Framed: 19.75" x 17.0 (50.16cm x 43.18cm)

Signature: Signed lower left; dated lower right.

Authenticity: Certificate of Authenticity issued by Theron Kabrich from San Francisco Art Exchange - expert in Vargas artwork.

Notes: This is a rare historical painting by Alberto Vargas from the same period as his famous Nita Naldi portrait, known as "Pan". At that time Vargas was under the employ of Florenz Ziegfeld who commissioned him to paint portraits of the famous performers in his "Ziegfeld Follies".

Literature: Published in Heritage Auctions Illustration Art Catalogue, New York, 17 Oct. 2014, page. 140, lot 72315.

Framed: Museum quality framed for conservation using Roma Moulding Vintage carbon black oxidized frame, acid free mats and Tru Vue museum glass.

Availability:    SOLD