Lot 67: FITZGERALD, ZELDA

Original pastel drawing of a group of brightly colored tropical flowers in an Art-Deco-style vase (23 1/2 x 18 1/2 in.; 595 x 470 mm), unsigned, [Maryland, circa 1934]; on light brown art board with faint ribbed pattern, matted, framed and glazed.

Exhibited in a show of Zelda Fitzgerald's work at the Montgomery (Alabama) Museum of in the 1970s

Direct descendant of Mr. and Mrs. Paul T. MacKie, Jr., close Baltimore friends of the Fitzgeralds (sale, Harris Auction Galleries in Baltimore, 10 May 1985, lot 207)

Probably drawn by Zelda Fitzgerald while she was under psychiatric treatment at the Sheppard-Pratt Hospital just outside Baltimore. In April 1934 an exhibition of Zelda's art work was held in New York (her husband helped to arrange the event). Many of her drawings and paintings have been lost ? most destroyed by a fire ? and only about 100 have survived. This pastel (in orange, blue, red, yellow, brown, and purple chalks) is unusual in that it lacks any background, unlike most of her reproduced work of the period. The flowers drape over the front of the vase, which is a blend of curves and diagonals. The flowers also emphasize curves and jutting lines and their petals have a spear-like configuration, similar to those of Bird of Paradise flower. In fine condition.