Thorton Utz
Saturday Evening Post Cover, April 19, 1952
1952

About the Item

Medium: Oil on Board Signature: Signed Lower Left Sight Size 18.50" x 16.75", Framed 24.00" x 22.25" Saturday Evening Post Cover, April 19, 1952 Thornton Utz liked to work out the poses of his figures with rapid, free sketches that clearly expressed the mood or mental attitude of his characters. Once this had been established, he then posed an photographed his models, as nearly as possible, in the predetermined positions. The photos furnished the details of folds and lighting which lent added factuality to his original poses. He used this approach effectively for his humorous Saturday Evening Post covers as well as for the more serious fiction illustrations for Cosmopolitan, McCall’s, The Ladies’ Home Journal, Redbook, and Good Housekeeping. Utz participated in the Society of Illustrators Air Force Art Program and received a citation from General Curtis LeMay for documenting the airlift of Hungarian refugees. Utz also received the Governor Bryant of Florida Award for his freedom posters. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and studied under Burton Callicott in Memphis. He also attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago and late taught at the Chicago Art Institute. Utz eventually concentrated on paintings and commissioned portraiture, which included President Carter’s family and Princess Grace of Monaco. He was a member of the Chicago Artists Guild and the American Artists Professional League. He later lived in Sarasota, Florida. The Post described “Two of civilation’s triumphs were invention of the phonograph and invention of soundproof booths to go play it in. Thornton Utz’s menagerie of music lovers, all loving a different kind of music, somehow reminds of us the average family living room, containing one phonograph and five people. There comes an hour at the end of the day, which might be called the Debaters’ Hour, when papa wants to hear a Harry Lauder record, mamma votes for Beethoven, Mary craves a good croon, little Billy yearns to rehear what Oscar Albatross said to Lenny the Loon, and grandma is glad she is deaf. What a pity science can't adapt the music-store-booth idea to one wall of the sitting room — reserving one booth for utter silence.” (The Saturday Evening Post, April 19, 1952, p. 3)

Creator:
Thorton Utz (1914 - 1999)
Creation Year:
1952
Dimensions:
Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)Width: 16.75 in (42.55 cm)
Medium:
Oil,Board
Period:
1950-1959
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Fort Washington, PA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU38431044053
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