- More
Frank Frazetta Egyptian Queen Painting Original Art (1969)....
Description
Frank Frazetta Egyptian Queen Painting Original Art (1969). For a man known for his exquisite paintings, this is quite possibly his single most famous piece... the artist's "Mona Lisa"... the enigmatic, beloved, and often imitated "Egyptian Queen" herself, a haunting image that legions of admirers have returned to time and time again.Having taken the comic book and newspaper strip worlds by storm in the 1950s and early 1960s, Frank Frazetta had already had a more successful career than most artists could even dream of before turning his otherworldly talents to book and comic cover fantasy artwork in the mid-1960s. In short order, he reinvented and massively expanded the entire field of fantasy illustration, single-handedly selling hundreds of thousands of books and scores of wildly popular posters along the way.
Frazetta would produce some of his most incredible work during this period with each piece helping to hone his craft, leading up to this spectacular painting in 1969, the peak of the artist's creative powers. While Frazetta would continue to produce paintings for another 30 years, this unforgettable image captured the hearts of legions and remains burned into the minds of generations. The Egyptian Queen first appeared in print as the cover for Eerie magazine #23 in mid-1969, and as multiple prints and posters over subsequent decades.
The luster of the paint, especially on the marble column and the supple form of the Queen herself, created an amazingly realistic and almost hypnotizing effect... pulling the viewer into the world of Queen Nefera. Her lovely printed skirt, a veritable peacock's plume, drapes seductively down the steps in this incredibly powerful and lushly painted composition. Frank Frazetta had the absolutely unique ability to paint what he envisioned in his mind (the main reason his preliminaries for works were so seemingly simple and tiny), going directly to the canvas with no tracing, no finished drawing, to paint what he saw in his mind's eye. To say this is a rare gift is a huge understatement - no other artist has been able to convey this same immediacy. It is especially exemplified in the works where Frazetta was asked to paint whatever he pleased, with the publisher then commissioning a story written to reflect the painted image. The result was always a unique, dynamic image that above all else rivets attention and elicits a visceral reaction from the viewer.
Although Frazetta would revise many of his published works from this era even years after publication, in this instance he seemed to know that The Egyptian Queen was an unqualified masterpiece from the outset. Immediately upon receiving the piece back from publisher Warren in 1969, Frazetta made only very slight and subtle changes, softening the Queen's eyes to make them even more resonant, thus creating this definitive, strikingly wistful visage that has become indelibly fixed in all fans' minds from the scores of prints, posters, and publications of all sorts over many decades, including the painting's iconic 1977 publication as the cover of Creepy #92. This masterpiece has resided with the Frazetta family since its creation, so this is the first time it has ever been offered on the market.
Although Frazetta typically worked on solid surfaces such as canvas wrapped board or pressboard, this piece was masterfully crafted in oil on a 20" x 26" stretched canvas. It has been open front framed to 24" x 30", and it is signed and dated in the lower left of the 19.75" x 25.5" image area. There are some minor drips (it is unclear if they are stains or paint drips) that are all-but-invisible unless viewed with a UV light source, and there are a few tiny white specks in the image area, as well as minor surface wear commensurate with age. There exists minor inpainting, primarily near the margins, only visible under UV light and most likely by the artist's hand. The painting presents beautifully with incredible eye appeal and is in Very Good to Excellent condition.
Please note, this lot is available for inspection in person by special arrangement; to inquire, please contact Todd Hignite (ToddH@HA.com).
More Information:
Edit May 12, 2019: The sentence in italics regarding inspection of the item was revised.
More information about Frank Frazetta, also known as Frazetta, Frank, .
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid (minimum $19) per lot.
Want to know more about this artist? Dates, history, background, and value ranges are covered in the comprehensive new guide. Order Now!
Charges to be determined based on Actual Shipping Costs incurred. Note: Additional invoice may follow original. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Floor auctions
Open for bidding: (View All)Fine Art
Ends on 12/01/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/01/2021
Ethnographic Art
Ends on 12/02/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 12/03/2021
Historical
Ends on 12/04/2021
Luxury Accessories
Ends on 12/05/2021
Entertainment
Ends on 12/05/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 12/05/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 12/06/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 12/07/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 12/07/2021
Nature & Science
Ends on 12/08/2021
Photography
Ends on 12/08/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/08/2021
Rare Books
Ends on 12/09/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 12/09/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 12/09/2021
Fine & Rare Wine
Ends on 12/10/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Ends on 12/10/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Ends on 12/10/2021
Currency
Ends on 12/11/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 12/11/2021
Arms & Armor
Ends on 12/12/2021
Decorative Art
Ends on 12/14/2021
Fine Art
Ends on 12/15/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/15/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/15/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/16/2021
Sports Collectibles
Ends on 12/18/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Ends on 12/19/2021
Currency
Ends on 12/19/2021
US Coins
Ends on 12/20/2021
US Coins
Opens about 12/03/2021
Currency
Opens about 12/17/2021
Currency
Opens about 12/17/2021
US Coins
Opens about 12/17/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 12/15/2021
Jewelry & Timepieces
Opens about 12/22/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 12/16/2021
US Coins
Opens about 12/10/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 12/21/2021
Photography
Opens about 12/22/2021
Comics & Comic Art
Opens about 12/22/2021
Decorative Art
Opens about 12/23/2021
Historical
Opens about 12/27/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 12/20/2021
Currency
Opens about 12/20/2021
Nature & Science
Opens about 12/27/2021
US Coins
Opens about 12/17/2021
World & Ancient Coins
Opens about 12/13/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 12/29/2021
Currency
Opens about 12/27/2021
US Coins
Opens about 12/21/2021
Fine Art
Opens about 01/04/2022
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
winnings
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
Heritage rocks!View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)
Video tutorial
Getting the most out of search