McClelland Barclay
American illustrator, 1891–1943
Beginning in his early twenties, Barclay's work appeared in major magazines such at the Saturday Evening Post and the Ladies' Home Journal. His subject was often "the American beauty", the icon of femininity that dominated popular visual culture from the 1890s forward, taking various forms since Charles Dana Gibson debuted his Gibson Girl.
This stock character also played a major role in his numerous national advertisements for a wide variety of products.
Barclay also operated his own firm, for which he designed jewelry and other decorative arts.
During World War I, Barclay won a prize for his 1917 poster "Fill the Breach." In 1918, he designed naval camouflage. He returned to camouflage design during World War II; he also created government posters for the war effort. A naval Lieutenant Commander, Barclay was killed in action when his ship was torpedoed in the Solomon Islands.
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
American illustrator and painter, 1867–1944
American painter, 1888–1948
American illustrator, 1875–1954
American illustrator, 1873–1948
American illustrator, painter, and author, 1877–1960
