A skillfully painted original portrait, oil on canvas, of the legendary actress and chanteuse, as seen in the 1935 Josef von Sternberg film, The Devil is a Woman. Though signed lower right "James Stokes," we have been unable to positively identify the artist or date the work, though it likely dates from the final years of her touring career, in the first half of the 1970s and was apparently an artwork made in tribute to and gifted to her by an artist fan. Subsequently given by her to Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer. In a simple modern metal frame, very fine. 20.5 x 30.5 inches (52 x 77.5 cm).
A skillfully painted original portrait, oil on canvas, of the legendary actress and chanteuse, as seen in the 1935 Josef von Sternberg film, The Devil is a Woman. Though signed lower right "James Stokes," we have been unable to positively identify the artist or date the work, though it likely dates from the final years of her touring career, in the first half of the 1970s and was apparently an artwork made in tribute to and gifted to her by an artist fan. Subsequently given by her to Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer. In a simple modern metal frame, very fine. 20.5 x 30.5 inches (52 x 77.5 cm).