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Demand for Quaintance’s work was almost insatiable. During the studio’s heyday, collectors purchased thousands of chromes, catalogs, model photos, greeting cards, 8x10 black-and-white photos, and sculptures.
But with few exceptions, buyers did not purchase paintings: a single expenditure of hundreds of dollars was more than most collectors were willing to spend. At the time of his death, Quaintance had sold only about 12 canvases and he had given away one. Seven years later, when Victor Garcia sold Rancho Siesta, 38 of Quaintance’s 55 male physique paintings remained unsold.
Although chromes (slides) of most of the canvases were available for those who wanted to see the paintings in color, they had drawbacks. The pigments oxidized and chromes were not the ideal medium to hang on a wall or tape into a scrapbook.
Before his demise, however, Quaintance hatched a plan to put color reproductions of all his paintings into collectors’ hands. Enter the lithograph.
The first lithographs were Siesta and Preludio — Quaintance’s twin masterpieces. They were printed on heavy stock in colors that carefully duplicated the originals, with a 16x20-inch print area, and ample margins. Price was $5 for one or $8 for both.
In the wake of their popularity, Quaintance offered color lithographs of Baths of Ancient Rome and Spartan Soldiers Bathing. Slightly smaller, they had a print area of 11x14 inches. Selling price was $3.50 each or both for $5. These were followed by Bacchant and Rodeo Victor, also 11 by 14 inches. Same prices for a single or pair, or $9 for all four.
In the upheaval following the deaths of George Quaintance and Tom Syphers, Rancho Siesta was burgled. Among the materials taken were full-color artist proofs of nearly every Quaintance painting that had not previously been reproduced in color. The thief claimed he was protecting prospective buyers of the property from discovering any “gay stuff.” Those stolen proofs became the source of all the pirated color prints, reproductions and giclees that are now so ubiquitous online.
But there’s more to this story. Three other Quaintance paintings were reproduced in color and offered to buyers: Hercules, The Falconer, and Noise in the Night. Unlike the lithographs, these were 8x10 prints, advertised as “the finest actual color photography … beautifully mounted on heavy 10x12 matte board ready to frame.” They were offered at $5 for one, $9 for two, or $12 for all three. Note: the color image shown here for Noise in the Night is a simulation produced in Photoshop.
I have never laid eyes on any of these or, with one exception, seen any offered online or at auction. Years ago, an eBay seller listed a damaged copy of either Hercules or The Falconer. Apparently no one — including me — really knew what they were looking at. It sold for $6.
This is the ad that announced them. If offers “All 9 color reproductions” for $25, but Siesta and Predludio are not shown, so they are included only by inference.
If anyone reading this has more information to offer about this final trio of color reproductions, I welcome hearing from you.