"“She had taken an enormous fancy to the girl” Harper's Monthly Illustra" Lot no. 3356
By Gayle Porter Hoskins (1887-1962)
1910 (Estimated)
31" x 20"
Oil on Canvas
Signed Lower Right
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Story illustration for “One of the Others” by Fannie Heaslip Lea, published in Harper’s Monthly Magazine, March 1910.
The full caption reads: “She had taken an enormous fancy to the girl.” The image features a gentleman and two women in a snowy landscape with a steam engine train in the background.
This evocative winter scene, painted by Gayle Porter Hoskins to accompany Fannie Heaslip Lea's "One of the Others" in Harper's Monthly Magazine, evokes a palpable sense of the biting cold. Hoskins masterfully conveys the chilly atmosphere through the judicious use of a monochromatic palette, rendered in subtle variations of gray—a technique frequently employed in his illustrations for the interior pages of popular magazines. Depicting a gentleman and two women bundled in warm winter coats beside a steam engine train, the full caption reads: "She had taken an enormous fancy to the girl."
This enchanting scene likely dates to 1909 or 1910, following Howard Pyle's 1907 visit to Hoskins's Chicago studio. Deeply impressed by the young artist's exceptional talent, Pyle extended an invitation to further his studies in Wilmington, Delaware, a pivotal moment that significantly advanced Hoskins's illustration career. Establishing a new studio in Wilmington, Hoskins embarked on a prolific career, becoming especially renowned for his captivating outdoor and Western scenes, which graced the covers of numerous pulp magazines published by Street & Smith.
A beloved teacher throughout his life, Hoskins was a founding member of the Wilmington Society of Fine Arts. He also co-founded, alongside Frank Schoonover, the Wilmington Sketch Club, further enriching the local art community. Through his prolific artistic output and his dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists, Hoskins left an enduring legacy on the world of American illustration.
Explore related art collections: Black & White / Railroad/Trains / 1910s / $5,000 - $20,000 / Winter / Magazine Stories / Newly Researched
See all original artwork by Gayle Porter Hoskins
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Gayle Porter Hoskins was raised a Westerner, having been moved from his birthplace in Brazil, Indiana, to Denver when he was only five. Growing up there gave him a chance to ride and work with horses and he served with Troop C of the Colorado State Cavalry for three years. A strong interest in drawing led to his first art job at fourteen doing cartoons for the Denver Post.
When his family moved Chicago in 1904, Hoskins enrolled at the Chicago Art Institute. Howard Pyle visited the school in 1907; he was impressed and invited Hoskins o study further with him in Wilmington. This advanced training helped to launch his long and successful illustration career. Although his story assignments varied, he became best known for his outdoor and Western subjects. As the Pulp magazines evolved, Hoskins’ work was especially well suited to the requirements of the Western covers and he was associated with the publishers Street & Smith for many years.
Hoskins enjoyed teaching and was a founding member of the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts. Along with Frank Schoonover, he was active in the Wilmington Sketch Club.