"Peggy O'Neil, Redbook Magazine Interior Illustration"   Lot no. 3924

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Illustration for “Women America Remembers: Peggy O’Neil” by Arthur D. Howden Smith for The Red Book Magazine, published March 1930, illustrated pages 20-21.

This painting by Mead Schaeffer depicts a romantic encounter between Peggy O'Neil and her first husband, John Timberlake. The accompanying caption reads: "It was inevitable that Peggy should fall in love—and she did, with John Timberlake, who had little besides his face to recommend him." It was created in 1930 for the third installment of The Red Book Magazine’s “Women America Remembers” series, which features stories of women famous for “personality, beauty, wit or audacity, or because of the tragedy left in their train.” 

Margaret ("Peggy") O'Neil Eaton remains a figure of historical intrigue, primarily for her central role in the "Petticoat Affair," a significant political scandal during Andrew Jackson's presidency. The circumstances surrounding Peggy’s marriage to John Eaton, occurring shortly after the death of her first husband, John Timberlake, and her family’s background as tavern-keepers, coupled with her perceived impudent personality, subjected her to intense social scrutiny in Washington D.C. Upon John Eaton's appointment as Secretary of War, Peggy faced social ostracism led by Floride Calhoun, wife of Vice President John Calhoun, who deemed her conduct unbecoming of a Cabinet wife. President Jackson, perceiving this as a personal and political affront, vehemently defended the Eatons. This controversy precipitated a major rift within the Cabinet, culminating in the resignations of key figures, including Vice President Calhoun and ultimately contributing to Martin Van Buren's political ascent.. The "Petticoat Affair" profoundly impacted Jackson's administration, leading to a substantial reorganization of his government. It remains a colorful chapter in the political history of the United States.

Explore related art collections: Magazine Stories / Romance / Rural / 1930s / $20,000 - $50,000 / Historical / Women as Subjects / Newly Researched

See all original artwork by Mead Schaeffer

ABOUT THE ARTIST

 

The work of Mead Schaeffer divides itself into two periods. The early one deals with romantic, swashbuckling and theatrical subjects. The second, although still strong and dramatic, is based on authentic, factual themes and is more reportorial.

   Born in Freedom Plains, New York, he studied at Pratt Institute, and got advice from Harvey Dunn and Dean Cornwell. A brilliant student, he was illustrating for major magazines while still in his twenties and had begun a series of sixteen illustrated classics for Dodd, Mead, including The Count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables, Typee and Moby Dick. Eventually, he wanted to deal with contemporary subjects that he could personally observe and learn about.

    With this objective, Schaeffer began to paint covers for The Saturday Evening Post, which by 1940 was featuring themes of Americana. The Post’s artists traveled to various parts of the country to find regional material with national appeal. Schaeffer made an extended trip to the West with his friend and fellow-artist Norman Rockwell. From this and other trips, many fine covers resulted.

   During World War II, Mead painted a notable series of Post covers of American soldiers representing various branches of the service. The paintings were done with the full approval and cooperation of the United States military authorities, who provided all the facilities. In researching the pictures, Schaeffer rode abroad a submarine, a Coast Guard patrol boat and various aircraft. Later, under the sponsorship of the Post, the paintings were exhibited in more than ninety cities in the United States and Canada in promoting the war effort. They are now part of the permanent collection of the USAA, an association of military officers, former officers and their families, in San Antonio, Texas.

   In other exhibitions, Schaeffer won the Salmagundi Club’s Shaw Prize in 1930, and a Gold Medal at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1944.