I’m kind of saddened by this sale. Frank had turned his deep woods home in Pennsylvania into a museum that was seasonally open.
The family sold this work off which means it is in private hands. Few museums are willing to showcase this as “art”. They’d rather have the crayon scribblings, paint drippings, and paste up collage of post-WWII “modern artists”.
The American Illustrator movement was considered “trash” because it was “commercial” art.
While it is in proud hands today, what is the public’s chances of ever seeing it in person outside of a possible exhibition at Ohio State University or a once in 20 years “look at comics!” museum exhibit?
With the populatity of comic books, collecting and making them into movies you would think that the industry and it’s fans would take steps to make sure this art is showcased as it should. Hey Stan the Man could bankroll the whole thing I bet or at least lay the foundation of such.