"“She struggled until she heard him telling her to be quiet.”" Lot no. 2143
By James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960)
1933 (Estimated)
19.00" x 23.00"
Watercolor and Pencil on Board
Signed Lower Left
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Story illustration for “Tin Crown” by Rex Beach for Cosmopolitan, published February 1933, page 61.
Battling writer's block, songwriter Bertram Berry relies on the hidden talents of Rosa Turini, a shy but gifted composer. Joe Dugan, Berry's astute publisher, recognizes Rosa as the true creative genius behind Berry's recent hits. Berry marries Rosa, primarily to have access to a steady stream of music to plagiarize, then quickly begins an affair with the wealthy Isabel Clark, seeking a divorce from Rosa.
In a pivotal scene, vividly illustrated by James Montgomery Flagg, a heartbroken Rosa calls Joe, hinting at her willingness to concede to a divorce. Joe picks her up to talk, but their drive is interrupted by a staged "stick-up." Two men emerge from a nearby car, ordering them to put up their hands. Rosa screams as one man forces her out of the car and demands she remove her dress, despite Joe's furious protests. Joe quickly realizes it's a setup: "It's a frame-up! Cameraman and everything!" A third man, unmasked, sets up a camera, confirming Berry's elaborate scheme to create a compromising photograph of a half-clad Rosa and Joe. This would force a divorce, ostensibly saving Berry from alimony payments while ruining Rosa's reputation. After the blinding flash of the camera, the assailants flee, leaving a shaken and confused Rosa and an enraged Joe.
The scheme fails to achieve Berry's desired outcome. His divorce is announced, followed swiftly by his marriage to Isabel Clark. However, Isabel soon discovers Berry's financial troubles and his inability to compose, leading to her quick disillusionment and eventual divorce from him. Meanwhile, Joe Dugan offers Rosa a job as a composer at Mink and Dugan, pushing her to overcome her insecurity and embrace her talent. The story concludes with Berry, now broke and creatively dry, seeing Rosa's new hit song, realizing her success while he faces ruin.
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See all original artwork by James Montgomery Flagg
ABOUT THE ARTIST
James Montgomery Flagg lived with gusto. He epitomized the public concept of the handsome, bohemian artist, surrounded by beautiful models, dashing off pictures with sheer exuberance of talent. In Flagg’s case, this was nearly true. He worked rapidly and easily in all media and with any subject matter. Humor and satire were his special forte.
Early in his career he did a cartoon entitled “Nervy Nat,” and for many years he illustrated the zany characters of the P. G. Wodehouse stories and created the prototypical interpretation of the valet, “Jeeves.” His rapid portrait studies and incisive caricatures were prized by many prominent sitters.
For over thirty years he turned out an immense amount of work, including many posters during World War I. Probably his best known illustration was the famous “I Want You” Uncle Sam recruiting poster. Over four million copies of this were printed and distributed throughout the country.
Flagg was a painter of serious portraits, too. He exhibited in the Paris salon of 1900, at the National Academy of Design, and the New York Watercolor Club. He was elected to the Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1980.