Walter Joseph Biggs (June 4, 1886 – February 11, 1968) was an American

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

and fine art painter.

Biography

Biggs was born in

Elliston, Virginia Elliston is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. It lies between the city of Roanoke and the town of Christiansburg in the southwestern part of the state. The population as of the 2010 Census was 902. ...

, in 1886. He studied in New York City at the

New York School of Art Parsons School of Design, known colloquially as Parsons, is a private art and design college located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. Founded in 1896 after a group of progressive artists broke away from established Manhatt ...

. He was a student of Robert Henri, and some of his fellow students included Edward Hopper and Rockwell Kent. He later taught at the Art Students League and the New York School of Art. He lived in the suburban community of New Rochelle which was a well known artist colony and home to many of the top commercial illustrators of the day such as Frank and

J. C. Leyendecker Joseph Christian Leyendecker (March 23, 1874 – July 25, 1951) was a German-American illustrator, considered one of the preeminent American illustrators of the early 20th century. He is best known for his poster, book and advertising illustrati ...

and Norman Rockwell. Also in residence were

Al Parker Al Parker (born Andrew Robert Okun; June 25, 1952 – August 17, 1992) was a gay American porn star, producer, and director. He died from complications of AIDS at the age of 40. Early career Parker was born in Natick, Massachusetts. After arriv ...

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and Dean Cornwell, who, along with

Tom Lovell Tom Lovell (5 February 1909 – 29 June 1997) was an American illustrator and painter. He was a creator of pulp fiction magazine covers and illustrations, and of visual art of the American West. He produced illustrations for '' National Geograph ...

N. C. Wyeth Newell Convers Wyeth (October 22, 1882 – October 19, 1945), known as N. C. Wyeth, was an American painter and illustrator. He was the pupil of Howard Pyle and became one of America's most well-known illustrators. Wyeth created more than 3,000 ...

and

Harold von Schmidt Harold von Schmidt (May 19, 1893 – June 3, 1982) was an American illustrator, who specialized in magazine interior illustrations. Early life Born in Alameda, California in 1893, he was orphaned at the age of five. After a year in an orphanage ...

would become leaders in the field. Biggs became known in the 1920s and 1930s for his illustrations for popular magazines such as the ''

Ladies' Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In 18 ...

''. In 1944, Biggs was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member, and became a full member in 1947. In 1963 he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Walter Biggs died February 11, 1968. An historical marker was erected at the intersection of Roanoke Boulevard and College Street, in

Salem, Virginia Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combin ...

, across from Biggs’ family home.

References

External links

Walter Biggs artwork at American Art Archives web site
* American illustrators 1886 births 1968 deaths People from Montgomery County, Virginia Artists from New Rochelle, New York Students of Robert Henri People from Salem, Virginia 20th-century American painters 20th-century American male artists American male painters Painters from Virginia National Academy of Design members {{US-illustrator-stub

Biography

References

Further reading

External links