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History, International, United Nations Charter, Charles Zingaro, Illustration Art, c. 1945

$1,250

Charles Zingaro (b. 1907?)
United Nations Charter
American: c. 1945
Gouache on illustration board
Signed lower right
Artist’s label verso
13 x 20.5 inches, image
14.5 x 23 inches, overall
$1,250

Original illustration art showing the signing of the United Nations Charter, juxtaposing a scene of what is apparently the founders of the United States signing the Articles of Confederation in 1781 with that of a hand signing the United Nations Charter on June 26, 1945. According to the original label on the back it was executed for Christian Herald Magazine, then a weekly newspaper for Evangelical Christians that promoted humanitarian values and equality. The image puts the viewer in the position of the unseen man whose hand signs the charter in the foreground with a fountain pen, with a large circumpolar world map behind it. In the background, 18th-century signer in powdered wig and frock coat signing a document beginning “In Congress” beneath an oversize image of a tolling Liberty Bell as other founders look on.

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Description

Charles Zingaro was a prolific and successful illustration artist with a career spanning four decades, from the 1930s to the 1970s. His subjects varied widely: adventure scenes, humorous genre scenes, patriotic, and religious images. His work was published in numerous magazines, with an equally wide variety of clients from pulp men’s magazines to the Seventh-Day Adventists. Over time, his style evolved into one reminiscent of movies of the era, with figures caught in mid action with dramatic lighting, often cropped or viewed from unusual angles. One genealogy website gives his birth date as 1907 and says he graduated from high school and served in the US Army during World War II.  Zingaro’s label on the back of the work gives his address as 206 East 68th Street, New York City.

Condition: Generally very good with the usual overall light toning, wear, soiling, abrasions expected for working illustration art. Illustrator’s guidelines and marks in margin, generally can be matted out.

References:

“Charles Zingaro (born 1907).” Ancient Faces. https://www.ancientfaces.com/person/charles-zingaro/153896281 (17 April 2019).

M.R.N. “Charles Zingaro (XX Century).” American Gallery. 7 December 2013. https://americangallery.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/charles-zingaro-xx-century/ (17 April 2019).

Additional information

Century

20th Century