Description
JimFlora.com has released a limited-edition, archival-quality fine art print of an uncirculated 1953-54 record cover illustration by Jim Flora. The illustration was intended for a 7-inch extended-play (EP) record release entitled The Incredible Flutist/Les Patineurs. According to a purchase order discovered in the Flora archives, the work was commissioned by RCA Victor in late 1953. However, there is no indication that the work was ever finished, accepted, or used on a commercially released EP. (The Incredible Flutist was a ballet suite composed by Walter Piston, and the waltz Les Patineurs was composed by Emile Waldteufel.)
This illustration has not previously been published or offered in any form. (An alternate illustration for this RCA project appeared in the book The Mischievous Art of Jim Flora. We are not offering a print of that work.)
Produced in 2008 by Flora archivist Barbara Economon, the print was meticulously and painstakingly crafted from the original painting — a tempera on board — in the Flora collection. The image area is 11.5″ x 11.5″ (larger than the original 7″ work), and the trim size of the entire sheet is 13″ x 19″.
Only twenty (20) prints were produced for this edition. Each print is hand-numbered in the lower right corner beneath the image and authenticated on the reverse with the stamped seal of Jim Flora Art LLC (a Flora family enterprise). We have sold numbers 14/20 thru 20/20, and are now offering number 13/20 at $185.00 plus shipping. (If you are superstitious and don’t want #13, we can issue you #12. Please let us know in advance.) Prices will increase for subsequent prints as the edition depletes.
The unframed prints are on heavyweight (310g) mould-made William Turner stock, a natural white, 100% rag paper with a fine toothy surface manufactured by Hahnemühle, who are renowned for premium-grade archival papers. The edition was produced using Epson UltraChrome K3 Pigment Ink Technology, resulting in brilliant, velvety color and offering excellent longevity and durability.
The print will ship flat, securely packaged and guaranteed against bending or dents. Print includes a detailed, custom-printed one-sheet with instructions for the proper care of this fine art reproduction.
Due to the fine art print’s higher-resolution process, as well as superior paper, inks, and quality control, the colors in the print appear brighter, crisper, and more vibrant than the online image. Online color appearance may vary slightly depending on your monitor settings.
