Thornton Oakley
American painter and illustrator, 1881–1953
Oakley illustrated for many periodicals. His commercial clients included the PA Railroad, the Philadelphia Electric Company, and Sun Oil. In World War I, he was commissioned by the Shipping Board (in conjunction with the US government) for lithographs of his drawings of war work at the Hog Island Shipyard in Pennsylvania. During World War II, he completed 48 paintings for the National Geographic reflecting the war effort. Throughout his career, Oakley referred to Pyle's instruction as his formative experience. In 1919, he wrote the article "Illustration for the American Magazine of Art," giving his view of illustration art as an expression of humanity's highest ideals.
In 1910, Oakley married Amy Ewing. They had one child. She wrote and he illustrated several travel books.
In 1951, Oakley donated his large collection Howard Pyle drawings, sketches, books, and letters to the Free Library of Philadelphia. He died in Bryn Mawr, PA.
Source: Delaware Art Museum archives
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
- artists
- donors
- male
American painter, illustrator, author, 1895–1976
American painter and illustrator, 1874–1961
American painter and illustrator, 1871–1954
American illustrator, author, poet, and teacher, 1895–1977
American painter and illustrator, 1863–1935
American painter and illustrator, 1861–1956
American artist, 1895–1987
American illustrator, 1882–1959
American artist and illustrator, 1896–1957
American painter and illustrator, 1875–1968
