Trivia

Test your knowledge of the Artists in books by Robert William Mellberg.

Click on a question to see the answer below.

In 1944 President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent an airplane to escort an American girl artist to a hospital. Who was the artist?

Short answer: Charles Dana Gibson. In the late fall of 1944, Gibson became ill at his island home off the coast of Maine. President Roosevelt authorized a seaplane to transport him to New York for specialized care. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 40.

Which illustrator owned a restaurant in Miami where he adorned the walls with his framed illustrations?

Short answer: Will Grefe, Will opened a restaurant in Miami, "The Studio Grille", and decorated the dining room with his illustrations. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 168.

One of the Artists in "A Dream of Fair Women" painted all of the covers of the Cosmopolitan Magazine for twenty-seven continuous years. Who was the artist?

Short answer: Harrison Fisher. When Fisher died in 1934, after 27 years illustrating for Cosmopolitan they printed no mention of his death. The October 1934 cover was illustrated by J. Knowles Hare. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 75.

There is a large painting titled, "The Signing of the Constitution" hanging in the U. S. Capitol in Washington. Who painted it?

Short answer: Howard Chandler Christy. Christy's masterpiece, "The Signing of the Constitution", was painted in a loft at the Washington Navy Yard because of its 20 x 30 foot size. It hangs in the east grand staircase of the United States Capitol building. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 65.

What American girl illustrator went on a honeymoon with three male friends leaving her husband behind to set up housekeeping?

Short answer: Neysa McMein; John Baragwanath, a mining engineer, proposed to Neysa after she had planned a vacation in Europe with four male friends. He was scheduled for a business trip to Labrador, couldn't join the group and was concerned that during the trip she would reconsider his proposal so they were married the night before her departure. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 205.

One of the ideal American girl artists raised pigeons for World War 1 military service for communications... Can you name him?

Short answer: Clarence Coles Phillips. An article in the June 1918 Women's Home Companion titled "My Homing Pigeons" describes the unusual and very practical way in which Coles Phillips expresses his patriotism. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 191.

Which American girl artist was the son of a French Consul General and grandson of Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri?

Short answer: Philip Boileau's mother was Susan Benton Boileau, daughter of T. H. Benton, His father was Baron Charles de Gauldree Boileau. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 151.

Florenz Ziegfeld was a leading theatrical exponent of the American girl in the 1920s with the Ziegfeld Follies. He often sent telegrams to theatrical agents for publicity. One illustrator was singled out to paint "one of his girls". Can you name the illustrator?

Short answer: Henry Hutt. Ziegfeld wired, "Why doesn't Henry Hutt paint one of my girls for "Front Page World Magazine or have I lost out entirely on beauty? Seems so! For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 141.

One of the American girl illustrators, in 1936 suggested that aircraft should be equipped with recorders similar to those in use many years later. Who was it?

Short answer: Penrhyn Stanlaws, suggested in a letter to the New York Times that airplanes use recorders to aid in potential accident investigations. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 115.

One of the American girl illustrators married Frances Starr, a movie actress. She divorced him and he leaped to his death from a third floor hospital roof on the 11th anniversary of the divorce. Who was he?

Short answer: Haskell Coffin. A sad conclusion to the career of an artist that painted a great many beautiful women but couldn't live without one who had spurned him. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 179.

Who was a co-founder of the New York Society of Illustrators and became its first president?

Short answer: Albert Beck Wenzell. He was also a member of the National Society of Mural painters. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 109.

Which American girl illustrator, born in 1877, reportedly began painting and sold his first illustration at age 12 to St. Nicholas Magazine for $10?

Short answer: James Montgomery Flagg. Ten dollars was a large dollar amount in 1889! and by 1891 he sold another illustration to Life Magazine for $8. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 94.

An American girl illustrator put "women in cigarette advertising" in 1926. Who dunnit?

Short answer: Clarence F. Underwood created the slogan, "I'd walk a mile for a Camel" in 1926. It was used in an ad campaign for Camel Cigarettes. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 129.

Who created "All is Vanity" in 1892, an anamorphic illustration of a skull that when studied shows a woman sitting at a vanity?

Short answer: C. Allen Gilbert, The "All is Vanity" illustration is still popular 100 years after the first publication. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 229.

Which American girl illustrator's father was awarded the "Medal of Honor" for heroism in the Civil War?

Short answer: John Cecil Clay's father, Cecil Clay, lost his right arm and was severely wounded in his left arm on 29 September 1864. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 240.

One of the American girl artists painted a portrait at age 17 that was presented to Queen Victoria. Who was the artist?

Short answer: Archie Gunn. When Archie was 17 years old, (1880), he accomplished a feat that most artists do not even attempt before they have been painting for many years. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 283.

Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin this illustrator's grandfather was the former mayor there in 1871-1873.

Short answer: Alonzo Myron Kimball was born in Green Bay in 1873 and had a relatively short career. He passed away in 1923 in Evanston, Illinois. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 249.

Arctic expeditions were cold and dangerous. Who was the Ideal American girl artist that, after completing high school in 1903, traveled "for the adventure" on an expedition attempting to reach the North Pole?

Short answer: J. Knowles Hare, (1884-1947), signed on to the expedition as an artist and surveyor. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 265.

Which American girl illustrator married the niece of L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wizard of Oz"?

Short answer: Thomas Mitchell Pierce, (1867-1907), the creator of the "Pierce Girl" married Harriet May Neal, Baum's niece. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 275.

Who had the distinction of painting several portraits of President Woodrow Wilson, including one that presently hangs in the White House?

Short answer: Franklin Graham Cootes, (1879-1960), was primarily a portrait painter but participated in the ideal American girl illustration era with magazine covers and book illustrations. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 259.

An American illustrator penned Lyrics for Carnegie Tech's school song. Who was the illustrator?

Short answer: Charles Jay Taylor was a fine arts professor at the school. He wrote the lyrics: "Here where spangled wilderness robed the fountains of the west, where the savage strife and stresses brought the settler's crimson quest..." For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 21.

The Evolution of Women portrayed women from the garden of Eden to a futuristic A.D. 1960 woman, (64 years in the future). Who illustrated this 1896 book?

Short answer: Harry Whitney McVickar. wrote and illustrated six books between 1885 and 1896. Women in the evolution book included an MD, lawyer, bicyclist, golfer, hunter, and one beating her husband. For the rest of the story see "A Grandfather's Dream of Fair Women", page 28.

The son of an illustrator fell six stories from a hotel room and survived. Who was the father?

Short answer: Charles H. Twelvetrees son Clark was 23 years old when he fell from a hotel balcony. One account said he jumped but another said it was an accident. His fall was broken by the hotel entrance awning. For the rest of the story see the Life and Works of Charles H. Twelvetrees, page 11.

Trivia

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