I so almost bought one at Aldi last week, but alas I am poor and could not justify the purchase.
Speaking of which, have yall seen the new Chris Ware postage stamps?!?!?
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WARNING: Mega-thread ahead!
I have a close friend whose grandfather was a portrait artist in Hungary, Estonia, London, and São Paulo in the mid-20th century. His name was Antoine Medgyesy (or Megyesi) and he painted celebrities, rich people, and horses. My friend has several of his lookbooks, containing black-and-white photos of his color paintings. Here are some of them, in no particular order.
Dom Carlos Tasso Sax-Coburg e Bragança, São Paulo, 1965.
He’s the great-great-grandson of Dom Pedro II of Brazil. He’s still alive, BTW.
Another portrait of Dom Carlos, 1966:
Mr. Medgyesy with the above portrait:
Spanish queen-in-exile Victoria Eugenie (“Ena”) of Battenberg, London, 1938.
She was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Apparently there’s a recent Spanish biopic (entitled Ena) about her amazing life.
Thuránszky László, Budapest (? probably), 1942.
I can’t find any info about him online.
Master Stove Anderson, London 1938.
I can’t find any info about him online.
Madame A. de Medgyesy, Estonia 1935.
I think this is the artist’s spouse (and my friend’s grandmother)
Two images of the same portrait, Miss Claire Luce, London 1939.
Note that the upper image’s caption includes a parenthetical “(Booth)” [sic] after her name. It seems there was some confusion here, since there were two well-known women with similar names. Clare Boothe Luce (note spelling of first and maiden names) was an American author, politician, diplomat, and public intellectual, married to Henry Luce, the American magazine magnate. Claire Luce was an American stage and screen actress, dancer, and singer. She often appeared on the English stage and played in Of Mice and Men in London in 1939, so I’m pretty certain that this portrait is her and not Clare Boothe Luce. The “Booth” may have been added later. Both Luces, coincidentally, were born in 1903, and died within two years of each other in the late 1980s. The mistake, with misspellings, was even carried over to a program from a 1967 exhibit of Medgyesy’s work in Cincinnati:
Lady Naomi Boynton, Lady Nightingale, London 1938.
The only info about her online seems to be this from Burke’s Peerage.
Finally, a couple photos regarding the 1939 exhibition:
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My friend also has several small sketchbooks from her grandfather Antoine Medgyesy that included some little illustrated stories. This one is about a proud rooster, “Pikko” the Stinker, with Google translations:
A chicken barely hatched from the egg. He was always plucking the chicks’ tails. And because he believed he was much stronger, he was always thinking about fighting.
Once Pikko jumped in front of the rooster, shouting, “Cock-a-doodle-doo” in his madness. This was too much for cock-father; I’ll punish you, you cheeky animal!"
[I think there’s a page missing here]
Housewife thinks: That’s it for him! Looked better as a roast!
Peace in the yard, comfort in the stomach. No one should dare to fight or stink!
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Here’s another little illustrated fable by Antoine Medgyesy:
“Schips” the disobedient one
Tante Rosa’s favorite is called Schips, a disobedient white Pomeranian. He constantly ran across highways, despising Rosa’s scolding and punishments.
Tante Rosa is always in fear. She often thinks: “How will it end?” For where cars race in droves, Schips [chases after] dogs and cats.
A gentleman drives along in a big car and splits Schips in two. The good Rosa—oh, fatal!—runs to the animal hospital with her Schips.
The vet amputated in a hurry. Luckily it’s only the hind legs. Sorrow lives in Rosa’s heart. Schips feels remorse through pain.
Since then, Schips has been driving on four wheels, taking a peaceful stroll with Tante Rosa. “Whoever doesn’t follow good advice will live a troubled life until the end.”
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The cover page and a few more illustrations from this sketchbook by Antoine Medgyesy.
Picture book for ____
Drawn and explained by Grandpa Toni [Antoine]
São Paulo 1963
First page of another fable:
“Pinzi” the pugnacious one.
Black Katzi has a little son whose neck and paws are as white as snow. Little Pinzi has bitten every kitten. Katzi is always scolding him: “Love your neighbor!”
Finally, this wonderful illustration of zoo animals dancing, with musicians and a conductor in the tree:
Detail:
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This brings to mind…
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