JOHN RAITT - INSCRIBED ORIGINAL ART SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: CORNELIA OTIS SKINNER - HFSID 298345

JOHN RAITT and CORNELIA OTIS SKINNER

Original pencil drawing of Skinner, also signed by the artist, John Raitt

Original Art inscribed and signed: "To John E. Raitt,/with every good wish,/Cornelia Otis Skinner", 5½x8. Pencil drawing also signed by the artist "J. Raitt". The daughter of distinguished actor Cornelius Skinner, Cornelia (1901-1979) was a gifted stage and screen character actress and writer. She began her career with her father on Broadway in 1921's Blood and Sand and appeared in five more shows until embarking in 1926 on a three-year U.S. tour of a one-woman show she produced. In addition to writing satirical and witty verse, Cornelia was the author of eight plays, including The Pleasure of His Company (1958, with Samuel Taylor). She also wrote essays, but is perhaps best known for Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, a description of a European vacation she took with Emily Kimbrough. Both works were made into feature films (Our Hearts Were Young and Gay, 1944; The Pleasure of His Company, 1961) in which Cornelia appeared. Her film credits also include Kismet (1930), Stage Door Canteen (1943), The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) and The Swimmer (1968). While in college in the 1930s, JOHN RAITT began drawing portraits of famous people. He sent his artwork to each subject with a request that it be autographed and returned to him. Two horizontal folds. Tape affixed at corners. Irregularly cut at left edge. Otherwise, fine condition.