For over three decades, Dean Cornwell (1892-1960) was recognized as the "Dean of Illustrators", a nickname given to him by his peers. Celebrated and well known during his lifetime, Cornwell began his career as an illustrator in 1914. Between 1920 through the mid-1950s his art appeared regularly in magazines, illustrated books, and posters advertising hundreds of products. Cornwell was awarded the contract for the Los Angeles Public Library murals in 1927 and spent the next five years researching and painting the final canvases; he completed the murals in 1932. In addition to the Library's large murals, he painted over twenty historic murals in public buildings across the U.S. In 1959 he was inducted into the society of Illustrator's Hall of Fame. In the winter of 1960, Cornwell suffered severe abdominal pains resulting from a ruptured main artery and died - he was 68 years old. Artists Dean Cornwell (standing next to easels holding a palette) and Gile Steele (on ladder) work on a mural at the Central Library. A male model is on the left holding a jar over his head; his back is to the camera.
Cornwell, Dean,--1892-1960 Steele, Gile Central Library (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Public Library Murals--California--Los Angeles Artists--United States Art--California--Los Angeles Models (Persons)--California--Los Angeles Interiors--California--Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
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