Dean Cornwell papers, 1893-1981

Dean Cornwell (1892-1960) was a muralist, painter, and illustrator who worked primarily in New York.

Cornwell was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He began his career as a cartoonist for the Louisville Herald and then moved to Chicago where he studied at the Art Institute and worked for the Chicago Tribune. In 1915 he moved to New Rochelle, New York where he studied under Harvey Dunn at the Art Students League of New York. Eventually he traveled to London where he began to study mural painting under Frank Brangwyn.

Cornwell was a teacher at the Art Students League in New York, served as President of the Society of Illustrators (1922-1926), and was elected to its Hall of Fame in 1959. In 1934, he was elected Associate Academician into the National Academy of Design, and became a full Academician in 1940. He also served as president of the National Society of Mural painters from 1953 to 1957. At the peak of his career, he earned the nickname "Dean of Illustrators".

Cornwell's artwork was featured in multiple publications including Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar, Redbook, and Good Housekeeping. He painted many murals during his career including those found in the Sir Walter Raleigh Room in the Hotel Warwick, the Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, and the General Motors Mural at the 1939 World's Fair in New York.

Cornwell died on December 4th, 1960 at the age of sixty-eight in New York City.