Earl Moran (American, 1893-1984) A Harum Scarum (Marilyn Monroe), 1948 Pastel on board 26-5/8 x 23-3/4 inches (67.6 x 60.3 cm) Signed lower right: Earl Moran Earl Moran met Marilyn Monroe in 1946, when she was working as a commercial model for the Blue Book Model Agency. Just 19, and still going by her married name Norma Jeane Dougherty, she instantly became his new favorite model posing frequently for a series of Brown & Bigelow calendars that were published in the late 1940s and early 1950s. One example of these rare works is A Harum Scarum, which shows Monroe's instantly recognizable smile paired with the strawberry blonde hair she had at the time. The work appears on the November page of Earl Moran's Girls of 1952 twelve-month spiral bound Brown & Bigelow calendar, and was additionally published under the title At Ease. Moran originals featuring Marilyn Monroe rarely come to market, making this a treat for collectors. HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved