"Story illustration for “The River’s End"" Lot no. 4892
By Dean Cornwell (American- 1892-1960)
1918
35" x 27", Framed 40" x 32"
Oil on Canvas
Signed & Dated Lower Left
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Story illustration for “The River’s End” by James Oliver Curwood for Good Housekeeping, published March 1919, page 14.
The full caption reads: “There were no tears in Miriam Kirkstone’s eyes as Keith finished his story. Tears, perhaps, would have hidden from Keith the desolation he saw there. And then she said, ‘And that—was John Keith!’ Keith bowed his head in confirmation of the lie, and, thinking of Conniption, he said: ‘He was the finest gentleman I ever knew. And I am sorry he is dead.’”
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ABOUT THE ARTIST
Dean Cornwell was a brilliant left-handed painter who dominated the illustration field for many years. As a student of Harvey Dunn, he inherited much of the teachings of Howard Pyle and later studied under Frank Brangwyn, the British muralist. To these influences Cornwell added his own monumental style, both intricate and bold.
Cornwell was an untiring worker who made a great many preliminary studies and trial compositions before attempting a final painting in oils. These drawings have great interest by themselves for the beauty of their draftsmanship.
Prolific and in great demand, he illustrated for a wide variety of magazines and advertisers, but found time as well to paint many important murals. Notable among them were those for the Los Angeles Public Library. The General Motors mural at the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. The Tennessee State Office Building, the Eastern Airlines building in Rockefeller Center, and the Raleigh Room at the Hotel Warwick in New York City.
Dean was president of the Society of Illustrators from 1922-1926 and was elected to its Hall of Fame in 1959. He taught illustration at the Art Students League in New York, and by example created a "Cornwell School."