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Alice and Martin ProvensenLeonardo da Vinci Illustrated Book Study - Renaissance Man80
s
80 s
$12,000
£9,130.24
€10,519.90
CA$17,036.24
A$18,276.84
CHF 9,803.32
MX$220,050.72
NOK 123,582.38
SEK 112,690.01
DKK 78,597.69
About the Item
The present illustration by husband-and-wife team Alice and Martin Provensen is a study for Leonardo da Vinci's illustrated Book, executed circa the 1980s. It depicts the sequential evolution of his prototype flying machine. White-bearded Leonardo is shown three times. First, he is seen contemplating flight and engaging with a pigeon keeper, surrounded by a gaggle of curious youth. Leonardo is next shown atop the Campanile as he and some assistants release the birds to joyful expressions. In the final scene, we see the genius's pedal helicopter in test mode with inspirational pigeons flying above. A crowd of onlookers have expressions of wonder written on their faces. Signed lower right Unframed. This was a study or preliminary for a pop-up book on Leonardo da Vinci.
- Creator:Alice and Martin Provensen (1918 - 2018, American)
- Creation Year:80 s
- Dimensions:Height: 11.75 in (29.85 cm)Width: 16.75 in (42.55 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement Style:
- Period:
- Condition:A major crease is dividing the work in two. It was a double-spread. Pin hole in upper right and left corner and minor handling issue on the extreme edges. slight dog ear lower left that is outside the live area.
- Gallery Location:Miami, FL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU385315528602
Alice and Martin Provensen
Alice Rose Provensen (née Twitchell; August 14, 1918[2] – April 23, 2018 and Martin Provensen (July 10, 1916 – March 27, 1987) were an American couple who illustrated more than 40 children's books together, 19 of which they also wrote and edited.[4] According to Alice, "we were a true collaboration. Martin and I really were one artist." Biographies Their early lives were similar. Both were born in Chicago and moved to California when they were twelve.[5] Both received scholarships to the Art Institute of Chicago, and both attended the University of California, though at separate campuses. After college, Alice went to work with Walter Lantz Studio, the creators of Woody Woodpecker, and Martin took work with the Walt Disney Studio, where he collaborated on Pinocchio, Fantasia, and Dumbo. The pair met in 1943 when Martin, working as a creator of training films for the American military, was assigned to the Walter Lantz Studio. They were married in 1944 and settled in Washington, D.C., where they worked on war-related projects. After the war, they moved to New York City where a friend helped them get their first job, illustrating The Fireside Book of Folk Songs.[5] They illustrated several Little Golden Books including The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown (1949). In 1952, Tony the Tiger, designed by Martin, debuted as a Kellogg's mascot. The Provensens were a runner-up for the 1982 Caldecott Medal as illustrators of A Visit to William Blake's Inn by Nancy Willard (who won the companion Newbery Medal). Two years later they won the Caldecott for The Glorious Flight, the story of aviator Louis Blériot, the first man to fly solo across the English Channel, which they also wrote.[6] The annual award by U.S. professional librarians recognizes the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children".[7] Eight of their books were named to The New York Times annual Ten Best Illustrated Books, including Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm (1974) and An Owl and Three Pussycats (1981).[8] The couple were collaborative illustrators for Donald Waxman's "Pageants for Piano," a series of pedagogical primers.[9] The couple lived for many years at Maple Hill Farm in Dutchess County, New York, which they portrayed in A Year at Maple Hill Farm (1978) as well as Our Animal Friends.[10] Martin died of a heart attack on March 27, 1987, in Staatsburg. Alice continued to live and work at Maple Hill Farm, publishing solo work such as The Buck Stops Here: the Presidents of the United States (1990) and My fellow Americans: a family album (1995), two presentations of people and events from American history (juvenile nonfiction).[10][11]Punch in New York, published in 1991, received several honors and is dedicated to her grandson, Sean. After turning ninety, Alice moved to San Clemente, California, to live with her daughter, Karen Mitchell, and her family. Provensen continued working (an addition was added to her daughter's house for a studio) well into her nineties.[11] She died at age 99.[3] Books

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