Oversized original sketch by film and theatre director Rouben Mamoulian, who draws a scene from Porgy and Bess that depicts two African American women walking, one holding an infant and both head-carrying baskets. Accomplished in graphite on an off-white 12.5 x 16.5 sheet of artist paper, which is signed and inscribed in the lower left corner in pencil, “To Lee and Ira, with love, Rouben, Sept. 1941.” Matted and framed to an overall size of 21.5 x 25.5. In fine condition, with an old tape stain to the upper left edge. Mamoulian began his Broadway director career with a production of DuBose Heyward's Porgy, which opened on October 10, 1927. He directed the revival of Porgy two years later and, after several years of making movies in Hollywood, he returned to the stage to direct George Gershwin's operatic treatment of Porgy and Bess, which opened on October 10, 1935. Mamoulian was also originally hired to direct the 1959 film adaptation, but he was subsequently fired in favor of director Otto Preminger after a disagreement with the producer; namely, Mamoulian wanted to film on location in South Carolina after a fire on the sound stage destroyed the film's sets.
This item is Pre-Certified by Beckett
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
(inquire for price)
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
