LeRoy Neiman - Eileen Ford at 21 (Portrait of Eileen Ford), 1978

Signed in brown marker, dated 9-25-78, annotated, with title Eileen at "21", bearing unique dedication "With Love" and signed LeRoy Neiman
Provenance: Acquired from the Estate of Eileen Ford, legendary founder of the Ford Modeling Agency
If ever there was a work evocative of a certain part of New York City's elite cultural and fashion world of the late 1970s - this Leroy Neiman drawing is it. Even the fact that it was drawn on the menu of a New York institution - the 21 Club - where all the mucky-mucks in fashion, along with William Morris agents, real estate and entertainment impresarios, and advertising executives hobnobbed, makes it truly historic. Truly a one-of-a-kind piece of New York art, fashion and restaurant history! It is a unique, original vintage drawing done in marker by legendary artist LeRoy Neiman - a portrait of the equally legendary Eileen Ford (founder of the iconic Ford Modeling Agency). Neiman drew this picture on the printed menu of the no less legendary "21 Club" in New York City, where moguls, city power brokers, entertainment executives and literary, talent and fashion agents like Eileen Ford converged over lunch and drinks. The menu cover depicts some of the private dining rooms at 21 - "The Puncheon Room", "The Hunt Room" and the "Remington Room". Eileen Ford famously had her own table in one of these private rooms at the 21 Club for many years, where she held court with the most beautiful people in the fashion and advertising industry. She is depicted in this drawing accompanied by one of her models, being served by the well dressed waiter at 21.
The drawing is hand titled Eileen at "21", and features the personal inscription and dedication "With Love, LeRoy Neiman". It is dated 9-25-78.
The provenance of this work is superb: it was acquired directly from the Estate of Eileen Ford, and was part of Ms. Ford's private collection until she passed away. The vintage 21 off set lithographic menu alone, upon which Neiman created his drawing - is a collectors item. (The 1978 prices on the back aren't much lower than some of today's prices!) This is a one-of-a-kind piece of New York history, where the elites worlds of fashion, art, business and gastronomy converged, recalling the glamour of a bygone era
This work has been elegantly matted and framed in a museum quality gilt toned wood frame under double sided UV plexiglass to show the drawing done on the front of the menu, as well as the dining menu on the verso of the drawing.
Measurements:
Overall Size: 14.25 x 11 in.
Framed Size: 20.25 by 16.75 by 1.75

Best known for his brilliantly colored, stunningly energetic images of sporting events and leisure activities, LeRoy Neiman was probably one of the most popular and successful living artist in the United States before his passing in June 2012. He contributed some of his fortune to the founding of the LeRoy Neiman Center for print studies at Columbia University.