"Running from Waves, Post Cover" Lot no. 4800
By Sarah S. Stilwell Weber 1878-1939
1921
30" x 25", Framed 37.5" x 32.5"
oil on linen laid to panel
Signed Initials Lower Right
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The Saturday Evening Post Magazine, July 23, 1921 (cover illustration).
Despite her mentor’s advice, Stilwell Weber married in 1908, and her daughter Jane was born in 1909. It is often suggested that motherhood strengthened her connection to the theme of childhood, which ran throughout her work. Her depictions of children playing joyfully in natural environments evoke a vibrant image of youth, filled with pure happiness, innocence, and freedom. The lively composition of Running from Waves, which shows a gentle surf touching an exuberant little girl’s feet, perfectly captures this feeling.
Explore related art collections: Saturday Evening Post Covers / Children / Beach/Summer / 1920s / $50,000-$100,000
See all original artwork by Sarah S. Stilwell Weber
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sarah S. Stiwell Weber was fortunate as a student to attend the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia at the time Howard Pyle conducted his illustration class there (1894-1900). She also attended his summer classes at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
Although Pyle’s influence is clearly evident in her work, her point of view was often highly imaginative and exotic; she did fairy tales about or for children particularly well. Her pictures were well adapted to books, and in addition to such magazines as Harper’s, Bazar, Collier’s, St. Nicholas and The Saturday Evening Post, she illustrated a number of children’s books. She also wrote and illustrated a song book, The Musical Tree.
Stilwell also worked in collaboration with Howard Pyle in illustrating his The Angel and The Child in sensitive pen-and-ink drawings, as well as with Katherine Pyle (Howard Pyle’s sister) illustrating her book Childhood and verse published in Harper’s Bazar. Among her many advertising clients were Wamsutta Mills, Kiddie-Kar, Fleishman’s Yeast, H-O Oats, Scranton Lace Company, Rit Dyes, and Williams’ Talc Powder.