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Who Art Thou?

18 Aug

Who is this Lady?
Who Painted Her?
What was She to Errol Flynn?

81319880-kees-van

— Tim

 
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Lollie
10 years ago

Is it?

Errol’s first wife Lili Damita painted by Dutch artist Kees van Dongen?

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Lollie

Ja, Lollie, Ja!!! “L’actrice Lili Damita”! Superb work! Painted circa 1926, and now valued by Christies at the price indicated in the link below, one I’m sure Lili would find much too low (unless she was the prospective buyer!

www.christies.com…

And here she is with those ever-exciting legs of hers, which I had to cut off above to hide the painter’s identity:

[img]http://ir0.mobify.com/project-christies-mobile/600/http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/D54070/kees_van_dongen_lactrice_lili_damita_d5407031g.jpg[/img]

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Lollie
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

YAY thanks Tim, :)

Being an art lover,did Errol ever own this one of Lili?

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Lollie

I’ve never seen anything indicating that either Errol or Lili ever owned this painting, Lollie. I think it’s quite outstanding. I wonder if she ever really did hair in that way??

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Lollie
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Her hair style in this photo looks similar.

[img]http://i58.tinypic.com/2ret9vo.jpg[/img]

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Lollie

Yes, Lollie, you’re right! Lili sure had some locks!!
… btw, way back in the last millennium, I used to have nearly the same hair-do!

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Lollie
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

LOL,I would like to see a photo of your ‘Lili do’ Tim. :)

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  Lollie

Well, for you Lollie, I’ll try to dig up a similar wig and take my first selfie. Unless a new mracle drug or vitamin is soon developed It would take MUCH too long (if ever) for me to grow it back!!

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ILIKEFLYNN
10 years ago

Thank you for posting, Gentlemen Tim. It’s nice to hear someone say something nice about Lili, on this blog, for a change! Great piece of art! For the real collector (if one could afford it) to have it along with the famous portrait of Flynn done by his painter friend. Would not that be unusual. –A. R.

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  ILIKEFLYNN

Lili was a looker. No doubt about it, A.R.. I think all of us EF fans owe her a great debt for her pivotal role in helping to immortalize the Great Flynn. And what an exciting talent and story sh is in her own right! I really think someone should do HER biop!!! Who could play the role, though!?

P.S. A.R. I’ve read but haven’t confirmed that Joe Kennedy hired Lili to help care for JFK in Palm Beach after he suffered injuries on the PT109. Have you have heard that?

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ILIKEFLYNN
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

That’s a new one on me. But I think Joe would have hired health professionals for his son’s health care and no matter what any one may say about Lili’s capabilities, I don’t think “practical nurse” was one of them. –A. R.

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  ILIKEFLYNN

Well, that doesn’t rule out her being an “impractical nurse”, A.R.!! I have a suspicion Joe Sr. might have sought a little nursing himself from Tiger Lil. He had a thing for Lili’s era of sexy female film stars. Heck, he even built a home for Miss Swanson not too far from Lili on the island of Palm Beach. … I’m not talking about the kind of nurse who takes your temperature. I’m suspecting the kind that raises it!

I imagine this is how Lili might have looked at the poolside patio bars in Palm Beach, such as the one at the Kennedy Compound. If so, she would have certainly raised both Joe Sr. & JFK’s spirits.

[img]http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/57/f3/bb/57f3bbbb92f61c2b14579dea4c0a214b.jpg[/img]

Though Joe’s long-time flame on the side, I don’t believe Swanson was his Swan Song.

[img]http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2012/galleries/dating-kennedys/gloria-swanson-660.jpg[/img]

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  ILIKEFLYNN

I’m not sure how big a fan I am of Decker’s portrait of Errol, A.R. At least, however, he probably did give Errol an original, rather than a forge! Who knows, though. I think there are at least two floating around!! (An “original copy” in Texas, the other – the one depicted below – elsewhere.) … I guess wecould call that a “Double Decker”.

[img]http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m13ynzrOpD1qa1agco1_500.jpg[/img]

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ILIKEFLYNN
10 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Well it appears Flynn liked it and if it was good enough for him…–A. R.
(But seriously I think Decker does capture the Baron well!)

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Author
Gentleman Tim
10 years ago
Reply to  ILIKEFLYNN

No doubt Decker was an exceptionally talented painter, A.R., but, for me, this portrait of Errol is not nearly the best one to have hanging so prominantly at Mulholland. Much too dark. Almost like a Dorian Grey curse over the house. The greatness of Errol is lost.

[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/Tina%20Gallery/pic-decker.jpg[/img]

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