The Florence Academy of Art U.S. is proud to be presenting significant selections from the oeuvre of Dean Cornwell as part of its ongoing educational exhibition series. Featuring a total of nine works — six paintings and three drawings — the exhibition looks to explore the artist’s legacy as one of America’s most important illustrators.
Throughout his career and during the Golden Age of Illustration, which occurred from roughly 1880 until shortly after World War I, Dean Cornwell (1892-1960) received many prestigious commissions, including work for major U.S. companies and publications, famous authors, and mural projects. The Florence Academy of Art U.S. will soon be celebrating Cornwell’s legacy during “Dean Cornwell: A Lasting Influence,” which opens in Jersey City, New Jersey, on October 15.
On view through December 15, “A Lasting Influence” explores how Cornwell became one of the most celebrated illustrators and muralists, earning him the nickname “The Dean of Illustration.” His exceptional draftsmanship and natural story-telling abilities have influenced several generations of narrative realist painters. “America’s Golden Age Illustrators, many of whom were also educators, helped preserve the foundation of picture-making during a time when Modernism was turning its back on tradition,” says Jordan Sokol, the academic director of the Florence Academy U.S. and curator of “Dean Cornwell: A Lasting Influence.” “This exhibition is a celebration of one of the Golden Age of Illustration’s most esteemed artists.”
To learn more, visit the Florence Academy of Art.
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