Kelly Collection of American Illustration

The Fine Arts Program is pleased to present Selected Paintings from the Kelly Collection of American Illustration, featuring nine paintings from the Golden Age of American Illustration. During that era, from the late nineteenth century to around 1935, Americans of all classes and occupations were regularly informed, entertained, and influenced by illustrations reproduced in magazines, novels, and newspapers. The illustrator's work not only moved, astounded, and delighted audiences, but it also influenced the way people dressed, styled their hair, and furnished their homes. The artists who created the illustrations--many of them highly trained and technically serious--were in great demand, were recognized nationally, and in many cases were paid more than baseball players and movie stars. Enrolling in art school during this period could be as sound a financial move as pursuing a degree in law, medicine, or business.

The artists often executed the illustrations they were preparing for publication as large, vigorous paintings. When working with publishers and authors, they often gave up some of their artistic freedom, but they gained something few other artists of the time enjoyed--mass exposure. An illustration published on the cover of a magazine, novel, or newspaper could be seen by a million or more people in a few days’ time, giving the illustrator a far larger audience than any museum could provide.

Four of the paintings in the exhibition are by Edmund F. Ward (1892–1990), who studied at the Art Students League in New York City with fellow student Norman Rockwell. Ward illustrated novels by Zane Grey and stories for such magazines as McCall’s and The Saturday Evening Post. Vandermark's Folly--Hawkeye at the Picnic (1923) is one of two Ward paintings in the exhibition illustrating Herbert Quick’s Hawkeye Trilogy for the Ladies’ Home Journal. Quick’s books, which were based on his personal experiences and family stories, chronicled the development of the state of Iowa. The other two works by Ward, Engagement and Bachelor Party, illustrate a story by Corra Harris titled Eyes of Love. They were produced for the October 1921 issue of the magazine Pictorial Review.

Also included in the exhibition is Dinner Conversation (1914) by Pruett A. Carter (1891–1955). Carter was born in Lexington, Missouri, and studied at the Los Angeles Art School. During his forty-year career, he illustrated for many leading publications, including the Atlanta Georgian and Good Housekeeping. He was known for painting women sympathetically and for depicting his heroines with gentle patrician beauty. Dinner Conversation is a beautifully rendered painting that depicts a group of well-dressed adults discussing a seemingly serious matter. No doubt this illustration, when published with the story, helped the reader envision the characters, the environment, and the intent of story. Like all the illustrations in the exhibition, it made the words come alive.

Selected Paintings from the Kelly Collection of American Illustration is open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., except federal holidays. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance. For reservations and further information, please call (202) 452-3778 or fax (202) 736-5680.