Mead Schaeffer | |
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| Born | July 15, 1898 |
| Died | November 6, 1980(1980-11-06) (aged 82) |
| Education | Pratt Institute |
| Occupations | Illustrator and painter |
Mead Schaeffer (July 15, 1898 – November 6, 1980) was anAmerican illustrator active from the early to middle twentieth century.
Schaeffer was born inFreedom Plains, New York, in 1898, the son ofPresbyterian preacher Charles Schaeffer and his wife Minnie. He grew up inSpringfield, Massachusetts. After completing high school, he enrolled in thePratt Institute in 1916. At Pratt his teachers includedHarvey Dunn andCharles Chapman. Dunn critiqued many of Schaeffer's early projects. While a student at Pratt, Schaeffer illustrated the first of seven 'Golden Boy' books written byL. P. Wyman.[1][2] Mead was married in 1921. He and his wife, Elizabeth, were to be the parents of two daughters.[2]
In 1922, at age 24, he was hired to illustrate a series of classic novels for publisherDodd Mead. His work for Dodd Mead continued until 1930. The books that he illustrated during this period includedMoby-Dick,[3]Typee, andOmoo byHerman Melville;The Count of Monte Cristo; andLes Misérables byVictor Hugo.[1]
In 1930, Schaeffer turned his attention from fictional characters to real people depicted in real settings. During the 1930s and 1940s he received commissions from magazines includingGood Housekeeping,McCall's, theSaturday Evening Post,The Ladies Home Journal,Country Gentleman, andCosmopolitan.[1] He produced 46 covers for the weeklySaturday Evening Post. His work as awar correspondent for thePost duringWorld War II resulted in a well-known series of covers illustrating American military personnel.[2][4][5]
He lived for a time inNew Rochelle, New York,[6] but for most of his career lived inArlington, Vermont, where his studio was in a barn.[2]Norman Rockwell was a good friend, and Schaeffer and his family often posed as models for Rockwell'sSaturday Evening Post illustrations and paintings.[1]
In retirement, Schaeffer lived inVermont, where Rockwell was a neighbor.[1] Schaeffer died inNew York City from aheart attack on November 6, 1980.[5]
Mead Schaeffer, a book illustrator and painter of many covers for The Saturday Evening Post, died Thursday of a heart attack ...
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