Portrait Painting
migh...@my-deja.com
item for auction on eBay: "RARE! 1930s HUGE Painting of Errol Flynn-
RARE!" Bidding opens at US$5'000.
Please view the item carefully. Pay close attention to the fine details
of this impressive work. The subtle brushstrokes, the careful
backlighting of the subject, the almost preternatural appearance
of.....oh my gosh, this isn't Flynn!!!
Well, what the hay, if we all chip in it still would be impressive
piece that we could rotate from home to home. Quite a conversation-
starter, actually. Think of the tales one could spin in its presence:
--Flynn couldn't make the final sitting, I suppose, so the studio sent
a stand-in replacement.
--With all the extras on the movie set, the artist simply grabbed one
that he thought closely resembled Flynn. Who would know the difference?
--Actors! They all look alike to me.
--Of course it's Flynn. Put your glasses on.
Hope everyone is well in our discussion group.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
rloxley
Maybe it's a painting of Flynn's great-great uncle. (The fat one, that is.) Or maybe it's a secret painting Jack Warner had done to spite Flynn.
My favorite parts of the description on ebay:
This piece was painted in the late 1930s to promote Errol Flynn's
movies. The painting's
larger-than-life size certainly gave foundation to handsome and
debonair Errol Flynn
and his "larger-than-life" performances....
"Flynn" is the one who looks "larger" than life in the painting!!
It was later given to the wife of a Hollywood film director and thereafter,
upon her
death, was returned to the studio (Universal). It was stored in
one of their big Lot
warehouses until it was purchased 25 years ago at a private, invitation
only, Universal
Lot "garage sale."
Gee, you would have thought at least it would have been sold at a Warner Brothers garage sale!!
Wonder how many suckers will bid on this "collectible".
Brad
Deborah G. Buckner
Katharina Ahlert
too, and only thought: Oh my god, this isn't Errol Flynn! Then I found your
postings - you took the words right out of my mouth.
Katharina
<migh...@my-deja.com> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
8iauk5$sc$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
migh...@my-deja.com
> A few minutes ago I took a look at eBay - I saw the wonderful (!)
painting,
> too, and only thought: Oh my god, this isn't Errol Flynn! Then I
found your
> postings - you took the words right out of my mouth.
>
> Katharina
The Universal Studio "Garage Sale" does present quite a puzzle to
solve. Again, perhaps over time, the "Portrait of Flynn" fell out of
favor with Jack Warner, so he loaned it out to Universal for an
indefinite period and simply forgot to ask for its return.
I had to go back & check the seller's other auctions: apparently the
seller is quite proficient in Star Wars collectibles & used baseball
cards -- however, the seller's knowledge of Hollywood actors may be
lagging a bit.
Deb's point too about the costume -- did Flynn ever appear in such a
get-up? (It's been years since I've seen "Elizabeth & Essex"). The
mustache -- please! I'm still laughing each time I think of it!
Katharina Ahlert
didn't believe that the person shown is Errol Flynn. Maybe you are
interested in the reply:
Our client, the woman who has owned this painting as a prized possession
(and
has had it hanging in her living room) for 25+ years was or actual person
who
purchased this painting from Universal ... and although we do not doubt her
veracity with respect to this painting... we are going through the process
of
having the piece authenticated... (just to be on the safe side). It may
very
well be that the artist himself took some license with Mr. Flynn's features
for sake of "artistry"... however, our client was told, and has believed for
25 years that this painting IS of Errol Flynn! If you are interested...
we'll
be happy to let you know the results of our authentication efforts! Thanks
for your e-mail!
I wonder if the client they talk about knew anything about Errol Flynn, was
a Flynn fan etc. - how could she believe it was him?!
Katharina
<migh...@my-deja.com> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
8icttp$ctq$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
rloxley
Well isn't that interesting?? The seller is trying to authenticate the painting after putting it up for auction!!!! I also find it very hard to believe the claim that the woman who owned the painting actually could believe that the subject was Flynn. If the story from the seller is true, then I hope that woman didn't pay much for the painting at the Univeral "garage" sale. This story sound more and more like the recent attempted sale of the questionable painting on ebay.
Brad
migh...@my-deja.com
the painting actually could believe that the subject was Flynn. If the
story from the seller is true, then I hope that woman didn't pay much
for the painting at the Univeral "garage" sale.
Did the seller happen to mention anything about the woman being
legally blind?
Do I have this straight? (1) the woman purchases the painting at a
Universal Studio "garage sale" (2) she has it displayed in her home for
25 years (3) the painting, being so very large, had to be noticed by
visitors to her home (4) an inquiry would be made as to who the subject
was (5) the response would be Errol Flynn (6) no visitor ever mentioned
the possibility that the subject was not Flynn (7) she apparently never
viewed Flynn films.
Whew boy! I guess Flynn's popularity has dwindled considerably over the
years. Had the seller claimed the subject was Jimmy Stewart or Bing
Crosby, there would be a full-blown media investigation!
Happy Birthday, Errol!
Michael Cummins
> years. Had the seller claimed the subject was Jimmy Stewart or Bing
> Crosby, there would be a full-blown media investigation!
>
I can here, is it Dan Rather?'s voice from Eye on America "She says the
picture hangin in her home for 25yrs is Errol Flynn, experts say it's
not..."
--
M. Cummins
------------------------
"Ni raibh d'oidhreacht aige ach and geal- ghaire do bhronn Dia air, agus gur
chreid se na chroibhe go raibh an saghal mor ar mire"
--Scaramuis le Rafael Sabatini