Frederick Gordon Crosby (1885-1943): 'A Driver's Nightmare'.
signed, pen and ink with gouache and grey wash on paper c. 1930, 50 x 37 cm, framed with acid-free mount and glazed.
Footnotes:
An important, atmospheric and humorous painting featuring a collection of 1930's car radiator mascots, all of which are seemingly coming to life in a moonlit woodland clearing. The artwork features well known mascot models by Hassall, Sykes, Bazin, Studdy, Aronson, Lejeune and others including Crosby's own design of the Bentley Icarus, some dancing in a circle, as if they would appear in a dream. Mascot models to be found include 'Diving Girl', 'The Tell-Tale Witch', 'Robert', 'Dismal Desmond', 'Bonzo', 'Spirit of Ecstasy', 'Pegasus' while a flock of Eagles, Bats, Humber 'Snipe', Voisin 'Bird' and Hispano Suiza 'Flying Stork' mascots fly overhead.

Provenance: Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (1926-2015).

See Peter Garnier: The Art of Gordon Crosby, illustrated on page 14.