Robert Childress Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1915 - d. 1983

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      • ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Archive of preparatory material for "Fun with Our Family."
        Jun. 09, 2022

        ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Archive of preparatory material for "Fun with Our Family."

        Est: $5,000 - $7,500

        ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Archive of preparatory material for "Fun with Our Family." The second book in the "New Basic Readers Program of the Sixties" series created by by Scott, Foresman and Company, 1962. The archive comprises three main elements: Pencil roughs of the full book consisting of a cover illustration and 60 pages (in folded quadrants) of handwritten text and sketches (all in the artist's hand) * Fifteen envelopes, one for each story in the book, containing preparatory modeling photos of the artist's family, typed revision notes from the publisher, sketches and re-worked pages * Two mimeographed proof sketchbooks contaning Childress' copious edits, a few text revisions, and some reworked illustrations laid into the pages. See condition report for breakdown of contents. Provenance: The artist, by descent to daughter Nancy, who was the model for the character Sally. Perhaps the most famous series of readers for young children, the "Dick and Jane readers," was the brainchild of Scott, Foresman editors/writers William S. Gray and Zerna Sharp. Developed in the 1930s, their popular primers, which used the "look-see" (i.e. sight-reading) method, peaked in the 1950s and taught generations of American school children the fundamentals of reading, writing, and verbal skills. When the company sought to update the series in the late 1950s and early `60s, they worked with professionals in the fields of child psychology and early childhood education to create the texts that used modern pedagogical methods and artwork that would reflect contemporary props and story plots to engage beginning readers. With an emphasis on visual stimulation and the idea that children learn to read pictures before text, SFC hired Childress to create the accompanying illustrations that children could relate to and ideally spark their joy for reading. His wholesome, joyful imagery for such advertising campaigns as Wonder Bread, Campbell's Soup, and Coca-Cola, among other traditional brands, made him the ideal illustrator for the series . Childress was so enthused by the project and produced several stories between 1958 and 1968. He employed his entire family in the venture, having them pose for the illustrations which SFC encouraged, printing all the photos he needed for his work. These photographs, which display his commitment to honest and realistic poses and expressions, were preserved by Childress and his family and are included in this archive, organized by the titles of the stories for which they were created. The accompanying full pencil roughs lay out the chapters and contain meticulous handwritten text beneath his perfectly composed sketches. Childress' contributions were so integral that the publishers would entrust him with textual edits that he suggested, some examples of which are marked in the proof sketchbooks. This archive provides a wonderful and detailed look into the creative process of the illustrator who helped shape mid-century American education. See also lot 84 for illustrations by Bob Childress.

        Swann Auction Galleries
      • ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Group of 8 illustrations for the 1948 American Agriculturalist calendar.
        Jun. 09, 2022

        ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Group of 8 illustrations for the 1948 American Agriculturalist calendar.

        Est: $800 - $1,200

        ROBERT CHILDRESS (1915-1983) Group of 8 illustrations for the 1948 American Agriculturalist calendar. Missing illustrations for the months of May, June, September, and November. Gouache on canvas board. 560x717 mm; 21 3/4x28 1/4 inches. Unsigned, but with several notes to the publishers. A copy of the printed calendar accompanies the artwork as well as several tear sheets for various advertisements for other agricultural products. Provenance: The artist; thence by descent to family. Bob Childress is best known as a primary illustrator of the "Dick and Jane" series of readers published by the Scott Foresman Company in the late 1950s and early 1960s, used in the United States and abroad for nearly four decades (see lot 10 for related lot). Early in his career, he promoted agricultural and farming products through his illustrations during and shortly after World War II (such as this lot) and went on to become a prolific commercial illustrator for such notable ad campaigns as Frigidaire, Mobil, Campbell Soup, Coca Cola, Wonder Bread, Carstairs Whiskey, Metropolitan Life, and Westinghouse, among others.

        Swann Auction Galleries
      • ROBERT (BOB) CHILDRESS. [CHILDREN'S / DICK AND JANE]. "'See me! said Dick. 'I can do this. Here I come!'"*"Mother said, 'Oh, Sall
        Jul. 16, 2020

        ROBERT (BOB) CHILDRESS. [CHILDREN'S / DICK AND JANE]. "'See me! said Dick. 'I can do this. Here I come!'"*"Mother said, 'Oh, Sall

        Est: $1,000 - $1,500

        ROBERT (BOB) CHILDRESS. "'See me! said Dick. 'I can do this. Here I come!'"*"Mother said, 'Oh, Sally. Come here and get Puff. Run, Sally, run!'" Together, a pair of illustrations for Dick and Jane series stories. Both gouache on board. The first in Fun Wherever We Are, Chicago: Scott Foresman and Company, 1962, page 24. 220x210 mm; 9x8 1/4 inches, on 9 1/4x8 3/4-inch board. Unsigned, but publisher's stamp on verso with date of August 8, [19]60 in graphite. The second in Fun With Our Family, by the same publisher, 1963, page 20. 225x221 mm; 9x8 3/4 inches, on 10x9 1/2-inch board. Unsigned, but publisher's stamp on verso with date of July 17, [19]59 in graphite.

        Swann Auction Galleries
      • ROBERT CHILDRESS, American (1915-1983), Dick, Jane, Mother, Father, Spot and Puff, oil on canvas, signed lower right "Bob Childress"...
        May. 02, 2019

        ROBERT CHILDRESS, American (1915-1983), Dick, Jane, Mother, Father, Spot and Puff, oil on canvas, signed lower right "Bob Childress"...

        Est: $2,000 - $3,000

        ROBERT CHILDRESS American (1915-1983) Dick, Jane, Mother, Father, Spot and Puff oil on canvas, signed lower right "Bob Childress" 24 x 20 1/8 inches Provenance: Private Collection, New York. Other Notes: Tags: Illustration, Connecticut, Dick and Jane

        Shannon's
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