Julian Ritter - The Las Vegas era: History and the Silver Slipper Collection

HISTORY

The female form has been the favorite subject of painters throughout the centuries and present-day artist are no exception. Julian was celebrated for his portrayals of Las Vegas Showgirls and clowns, part reality, part fantasy. Ritter was at work on these in the late 1940's and fifties, creating paintings that were risqué for their era and consequently ideal decor for the various casinos in this racy town. The Silver Slipper Casino (later owned by billionaire Howard Hughes) was one of Julian's best clients. Julian sold 35 paintings to the Silver Slipper over a long career.

It is these paintings that now form the core of a collection of Ritter's work, owned by Greg Autry, himself an artist as well as a collector. Ritter befriended Autry who began to collect Ritter's paintings as well as commissioning major works throughout the 1980's. When Autry learned that the Silver Slipper was about to be demolished and the paintings were to be auctioned, he wasted no time in purchasing the entire collection from the Summa Corporation.