Art And Bridge

The bridge community also has its share of artists, portraitists, and sketchers, who enjoy taking the features of the game of bridge and making them visual. Every bridge author, who has his/her works published, has had to select a cover for the publication. This is sometimes a difficult thing since it is a representation of the contents of the book in the form of art.

We would like to present several of these pictures, none of which are copyrighted, on this site for your enjoyment. We have attempted to ascertain whether the work is copyrighted, and if it is, it is not presented here, but only with the express permission of the artist. We have also attempted to provide the name of the publication, in which the rendering appears.

Some of the renderings may not be up to standard since they may be several years old. All pictures have been presented to match their original drawing as much as possible. However, some renderings have been published on opposite pages, which cause a crease in the presentation. Our apologies if this is the case.

If we have inadvertently presented any copyrighted material, rendition, or sketch, which is copyrighted, please be assured that it is completely unintentional. By sending us an email to this effect, we will, of course, delete it from this web page.

A classic among the bridge publications was authored by Carolyn Wells. Carolyn Wells wrote the publication titled The Rubáiyát of Bridge, or The Rubaiyat of Bridge (without the accents marks). A rubai is (in Persian poetry) a quatrain; or a poem in such stanzas. The designation of Rubáiyát is a derived form of rubai. The word itself is alledgedly a plural word derived from the root meaning 'four'. The outline of the poem itself is defined as a-a-b-a, whereby the first and second lines ryhme with the fourth line, whereas the third line does not necessarily have to ryhme. An example from the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, as follows, illustrates this poetic form:

VII
Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling:
The Bird of Time has but a little way
To flutter - and the Bird is on the Wing.

The First Version contains only the individual pages and pictures and poems.

The Second Version is a slideshow and the user must have Quicktime installed.

Title: 5 Against 4

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 8, Artist: Dennis Ellefson.

Title: What's New In Books

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 15, Artist: Signed by Unknown

Title: The Importance Of Counting Tricks

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 16, Artist: Signed by Unknown

Title: Blackwood's Basic Bridge

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 18, Artist: Signed by Erwin

Title: Avoiding The Dangerous Opponent

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 20, Artist: Signed but unreadable

Title: How To Respond To 2 Clubs Opening

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 24, Artist: Unknown

Title: Learning To Plan Ahead At NT

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 30, Artist: Unknown

Title: Missing Queen

Popular Bridge Magazine, December 1978, Page 41, Artist: Unknown

Title: Queen Of Spades

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1977, Page 42, Artist: Unknown

Title: Masked Club

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 4, Artist: Unknown

Title: The Good Minor

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 8, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: The Difficult Opponent

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 19, Artist: Paul Steinson

Title: The Difficult Opponent Two

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 19, Artist: Paul Steinson

Title: The Kamikaze No Trump

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 24, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: Problems Too Easy To Solve

Popular Bridge Magazine, April 1978, Page 41, Artist: Edwin

Title: Dorothy Hayden Truscott

Popular Bridge Magazine, February 1978, Cover Page, Artist: Dick Lasley

Title: Stop Light

Popular Bridge Magazine, February 1978, Page 20, Artist: Unknown

Title: Trumps For Transport

Popular Bridge Magazine, February 1978, Page 24, Artist: Edwin

Title: Tip Toe Defense

Popular Bridge Magazine, February 1978, Page 30, Artist: Unknown

Title: Counter Attack

Popular Bridge Magazine, February 1978, Page 41, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: Bridge In Gown And Tuxedo

Baron Barclay Magazine, 2005-2006, Cover Page, Artist: A. Allan

Title: Learning To Look Ahead

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 4, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: Takeout Double

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 15, Artist: Unknown

Title: Fourth Suit Forcing

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 18, Artist: Unknown

Title: The No Trump Challenge

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 26, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: The Undisclosed Convention

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 29, Artist: Unknown

Title: Jackpot

Popular Bridge Magazine, October 1977, Page 41, Artist: Edwin

Title: Play Low Medium High

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1977, Page 16, Artist: Reichart

Title: Preemptive Warfare

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1977, Page 20, Artist: Reichart

Title: The Two Club Game Try

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1977, Page 34, Artist: Unknown

Title: The Winning Odds

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1977, Page 41, Artist: Unknown

Title: Bid The Hand, Not The Suit

Popular Bridge Magazine, June 1977, Page 16, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: Bidding Majors

Popular Bridge Magazine, June 1977, Page 31, Artist: Unknown

Title: The Undisciplined Weak 2's

Popular Bridge Magazine, June 1977, Page 37, Artist: Unknown

Title: When Partner Says Not To Worry

Popular Bridge Magazine, June 1977, Page 41, Artist: Edwin

Title: Pick A Winning Hand

Popular Bridge Magazine, June 1977, Page 44, Artist: Unknown

Title: Here's Some Good Advice

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 7, Artist: Unknown

Title: Supressing The 4 Card Major

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 8, Artist: C. Chaffey

Title: Traveling Bridge

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 11, Artist: Unknown

Title: How To Pinpoint Your Game Bidding

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 18, Artist: Unknown

Title: Opener's 2 Club Game Try

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 20, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: The Killing Play

Popular Bridge Magazine, August 1978, Page 40, Artist: Dennis Ellefson

Title: The Crowned Queen and King of Hearts

Source: The Internet Grapevine Newsletter published by ACBL

Mr. Franco Donatelli, born March 13 1925 and died November. 15, 1995 was a cartoonist. He was born in Alessandria (Lissandria in Piedmontese) is a city in Piedmont, Italy, and the capital of the Province of Alessandria. The city is sited on the river Tanaro, aboutn 90 kilometers southeast of Turin. During his many years as a graphic artist and cartoonist he worked with many of the great and well-known names in the publishing business and also the film industry.

He also employed several pseudonyms during his career such as Frank Well. For his bridge-related cartoons, sketches, and drawings he employed the pseudonym of Donar Elli. He was a prolific artist, sketch artist, drawer, graphic designer. He also had and showed a zest for life, which sprung from his imagination, from his in-born creativity, from viewing the world differently and being able to put it all to paper.

Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge has been so gracious in preserving these pictures and drawings from Mr. Franco Donatelli, and it is with gratitude to the webmaster and by courtesy of the Escuela Chilena de Bridge that we also archive and preserve these works on this site.

Below is one of his rare videos posted to YouTube by mekimecomica on August 25, 2008. The volume control is on the left. Click and set to your comfort level.

Title: Explosive Bid

Artist: Franco Donatelli (Donar Elli). Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Suit Server in Green Plaid Jacket

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Suit Catcher With Net

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Card Juggler in Red Plaid Jacket

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Standing On The Victory Podium

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: How High Should I Bid

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Bridge Teacher Teaching Bridge

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Which One Do I Bid

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Lead A Spade

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: What Doth The Law Book Sayeth

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Being In The Spotlight

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Shall We Play To Hearts

Artist: Unknown. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: I Am Telling You That I Have All Suits Covered

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Kill The Hearts Sis !!

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Shoot NOW !! - We Have Seen The Whites of Their Eyes !!

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Netting A Contract

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: I Don't Want To Hear It !!

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Which One - Which One Do I Pick !!

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Dancing With The Minor Suit Devils In The Pale Moonlight

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Bringing The Trophies Home

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Petitioning The Bridge Oracles

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Smoke Signals While Playing Bridge

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: His Royal Highness Must Look Closer

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Unaware Of Zero Tolerance

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Across A Crowded Bridge Room

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Falling In Love With My Hand

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: http://www.bridgechile.cl/

Title: Unlucky Rabbit Foot

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: http://www.bridgechile.cl/

The webmaster of the website for the escuela Chilena de Bridge has
collected many bridge-related artworks of all manner and form. The
target is to archive and preserve these also on this site for future
reference. Other works are being added and the visitor is definitely
encouraged to visit this website.

Title: Ladies In The Library At Teatime

Artist: Unknown. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Forest Fairies and Bears

Artist: Unknown. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Red Star Line

Artist: Unknown. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: King Of Hearts

Artist: Franco Donatelli. Source: Escuela Chilena de Bridge

Title: Smoke Break

Artist: Unknown

Title: Filling Out The Convention Card

Artist: Unreadable

Title: Queen Of Hearts

Artist: Unknown. Source: Internet

Title: Discarded

Artist: Unknown
Source: Publication of La naissance du bridge
Sub-titled: Origines du jeu et evolution des régles 1850-1933

Author: Jean-Louis Counil

English
The Birth of Bridge
Origins of the Game and Evolution of Rules

Description: Les trois personnages sont:
Mme Mode, M. Whist et M. Bridge,
Mme Mode à M. Bridge:
Venez avec moi partenaire!
Ce cher vieux M. Whist est si ennuyeux!
Il est tellement vieux jeu.

Translation: The three characters are:
Ms. Mode, Mr. Whist and Mr. Bridge
Ms. Mode á Mr. Bridge:
Come with me, partner!
This dear old Mr. Whist is so boring!
It is so old-fashioned.

Title: Ye Royall Recepcioun

Author: From Chaucer Redivivus
Source: The Whist Reference Book Wherein Information is Presented Concerning the Noble Game,
in all its Aspects, after the manner of a Cyclopedia, Dictionary, and Digest all combined in one, 1899,
Publisher: The J.C. Yorston Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, LC: 99001799
Date of Issue: 1899
Note: Reproduced from the original picture by Maxfield Parrish,
designed expressly for this work. (Note: the print was 'Printed in Colors'.)
For Accompanying poem, see: Ye Royall Recepcioun

Title: Long And Lingering

Artist: Unknown
Source: Short Whist: Its Rise, Progress, And Laws - 1835
Charles Barwell Coles - aka By Major A *****
Date in Picture: 1715

Title: Short And Sweet

Artist: Unknown
Source: Short Whist: Its Rise, Progress, And Laws - 1835
Charles Barwell Coles - aka By Major A *****
Date in Picture: 1815

Title: Ace Of Spades

Artist: Unknown
Source: Saskatoon Bridge Club
June Newsletter - 2006

Title: I Saw A Movie ...

Artist: Unknown
Source: Saskatoon Bridge Club
Newsletter of June 2006

Title: The Card Players - Antwerpen

Artist: Theodor Rombouts
Flemish Painter: Born 1597, Antwerpen, Died 1637, Antwerpen
Location: Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
Style: Oil on Canvas

Title: The Card Players - Salzburg

Artist: Theodor Rombouts
Flemish Painter: Born 1597, Antwerpen, Died 1637, Antwerpen
Location: Residenzgalerie, Salzburg
Style: Oil on Canvas

Title: The Card Players

Artist: Lucas Van Leyden - (Real Name: Lucas Hugensz or Jacobsz)
Netherlandish Engraver and Painter: Born 1494, Leiden, Died 1533, Leiden
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Style: Oil on Panel

Title: Card Players

Artist: Lucas Van Leyden - (Real Name: Lucas Hugensz or Jacobsz)
Netherlandish Engraver and Painter: Born 1494, Leiden, Died 1533, Leiden
Location: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
Style: Oil on Panel

Title: The Card Players

Artist: Lucas Van Leyden - (Real Name: Lucas Hugensz or Jacobsz)
Netherlandish Engraver and Painter: Born 1494, Leiden, Died 1533, Leiden
Location: Wilton House, Salisbury, Garden Centre, United Kingdom
Style: Oil on Panel, 1520

Title: The Card Players

Artist: Fernand Léger
Completion Date: 1917

Location: Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller in Otterlo, which is a municipality of Ede,
which is a small village in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands, in or
near the Nationaal Park De Hoge Veluwe. The Kröller-Müller Museum, named
after Helene Kröller-Müller, is situated nearby and has a considerable collection
of Vincent van Gogh paintings.

Title: The Cardsharps

Artist: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, ca 1594
Italian Painter: Born September, 29, 1571 - Died July 18, 1610
Location: Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas
Style: Oil on Canvas

Title: The Cardsharp With The Ace Of Diamonds

Artist: Georges de La Tour
Duchy of Lorraine / French Painter: Born March 13, 1593, Died 1652
Location: Private Collection
Style: Oil on Canvas

Title: The Card Players

Artist: Paul Cezanne
French Painter: Born January 19, 1839, Aix-en-Provence, France, Died October 22, 1906, Aix-en-Provence
Location: The Louvre, Paris, France
Style: Oil on Canvas - 1890-1892

Title: T

Artist: Unknown
Source: Seattle Unit 446 - Various Bulletins

Title: Seven No Trump

Artist: Dorothy Blackstock
Source: Seattle Unit 446 - Newsletter August / September 2007
Submitted to Unit 446 for publication.
Description and Request by Patti McCallum:

This is a paiting by Dorothy Blackstock. She used to play in my game at Sandpoint CC.
I believe the young lady facing us is Phyllis Fletcher and the one with her back to us is
Joanne Torrance. Can anyone name the two older ladies?

Title: Bridge Poster

Artist: Unknown
Source: BridgeAholics.com

Mr. Harold Tucker Webster was the illustrator, cartoonist, for the bridge publication
titled The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion, published 1955 by Prentice Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States. We have attempted to reproduce
these cartoons on this web page for your enjoyment. These reproductions are
only archived and preserved on this site for future reference. The originals can
be accessed through purchase of the book.

Title: Bridge Addicts Anonymous

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Psychoanalysis Treatment

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: January 9, 1948
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Kibitzer Chair

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Commuters' Day Off

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: I Did Not Say A Word

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: Partner Rules

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: Sam Frimp

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Dummy Blocker

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Understanding

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: 1939
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: The Humming Lady

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: 1939
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: Horace Has A Bridge Problem

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: 1939
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: King of Hearts and Queen of Spades

Artist: Mr. Harold Tucker Webster
Date: Unknown
Source: The Bridge Player's Bedside Companion
Author: Mr. Albert A. Ostrow

Title: A Quiet Rubber

Artist: Unknown
Source: The Correct Card: or, How to Play at Whist, 1877,
Publisher: D. Appleton and Co.,
New York, New York, United States, LC: 28017531

Title: Ace Up Your Sleeve

Artist: Unknown

Title: Solo Whist on Board R.M.S. Orizaba

R.M.S. Orizaba
Date: 1881
Type: Glass Negative
Collection: La Trobe Picture Collection, State Library of Victoria
Photographer: Unknown
Source: La Trobe Journal

Title: Life's Little Lapses

Artist: Unknown
Source: Worthington Beer Vintage Advertisement
Date: 1929

Title: Explanation Whist

Artist: Randolph Caldecott - Link to picture of the artist
Source: Print from a posthumous publication

Title: A Four-Suit Squeeze

Artist: Unknown
Source: The Bride Bulletin, November 2003

Title: A Really Good Rubber

Artist: John Hassall
Source: Humours Of Bridge
Author: Cumberland Clark
Publisher: Herbert Jenkins Ltd.
Date: 1928

Title: A Grand Slam

Artist: John Hassall
Source: Humours Of Bridge
Author: Cumberland Clark
Publisher: Herbert Jenkins Ltd.
Date: 1928

Title: Carte Postale Publiée

Artist: Thos Downey
Caption: Happy Moments At Bridge
Publisher: James Henderson & Sons Ltd., London, England
Date: Posted at Woolwich, London Borough of Greenwich, England, in February 1911

Title: Finesse

Artist: Kelly Cooper
Unit 240 - Central Florida

Title: Julius Caesar and His Queen

Artist: Unknown
Source: Danksk Bridge Magazine

Title: Boys Playing Bridge on Railroad Tracks - Picture 1

Photographer: Unknown
Source: German Internet Newsletter

Title: Boys Playing Bridge on Railroad Tracks - Picture 2

Photographer: Unknown
Source: German Internet Newsletter

Title: Amazing Luck With The Red Suits

Artist: John Hassall
Source: Humours Of Bridge
Author: Cumberland Clark
Publisher: Herbert Jenkins Ltd.
Date: 1928

Title: Four Aces