VERSO
Label, American Illustrators Gallery, New York, New York

Trained by Howard Pyle, Harvey Dunn carried forward his mentor’s emphasis on narrative strength and emotional clarity, shaping both his own work and the many artists he taught from the years just before World War I through World War II. He instructed a generation of leading American illustrators – among them Dean Cornwell, John Clymer, and Amos Sewell – and his bold compositions and expressive approach also left a lasting mark on N. C. Wyeth and Frank Schoonover. Dunn’s experience as a World War I combat artist added a profound human dimension to his work, while his later “prairie” paintings drew on memories of his South Dakota upbringing to evoke the character and spirit of frontier life. In 1945 he was recognized by the National Academy of Design with the coveted status of National Academician, a distinction that underscored the esteem he held among his peers. The artist and historian Walt Reed later summed up his achievement by calling Dunn “one of the most important illustrators of the 20th century, best known for the authenticity of his Western subjects.”

PROVENANCE
The artist
Gene Geh (the artist’s student and friend)
Private collection, by descent
Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas, 2006
Private collection, Wyoming

LITERATURE
Howard Fast, “Neighbor Sam.” The American Magazine, March 1942, pp. 38-40, illustrated

Additional Resources

• Absentee & Phone Bid Form
• Harvey Dunn’s Past Results
• View Condition Report

Condition ReportSurface is in good condition. Canvas is lined. Spots of inpainting in sky, lower-right corner; and under the wagon wheel.

Important Notice: Statements of condition are provided as a service to potential bidders and reflect educated opinions, not facts. All painting frames are sold “as is.” The Coeur d’Alene Art Auction assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions.