Gay Nymph

Back in the relatively innocent 1940s you could be gay in the sense of "bright, cheerful, happy", rather than ... er ... heterosexually challenged. Heritage Auctions in New York City is auctioning in stages the Charles Martignette Collection of Illustration Art. Gil Elvgren's Gay Nymph (1947) recently sold for $286,800, a new world record price for the artist. The pre-sale estimate was $60,000. This lovely painting certainly transcends the dismissive label Cheesecake. It's fantasy art, not serious portraiture; but what the hell? So is Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus (CLICK).