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for Edward Arthur Wilson
1886 - 1970
Wilson's father was in the shipping business, which gave him the opportunity to observe the industry first in Rotterdam and then in Chicago where his father's interests took the family in 1893. Wilson attended the Chicago public schools, and had his first art instruction in 1901, in the Saturday classes for children given by the Art Institute of Chicago. During his teenage years he also made several trips as a sailor on lumber schooners.
After graduation from high school, Wilson worked days as a bookkeeper and took evening classes at the Art Institute, 1905-06, to prepare for a career as an engraver. In 1909, after some experience working in Chicago engraving and publishing houses, he left to study with Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware. He went to New York in 1911, where he began his career doing illustrations for magazines and advertising art; in time he was able to turn fully to work as a book illustration. Following his marriage in 1913, he made his home in the Jackson Heights section of Queens, with a summer residence in Truro, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and after 1947 lived year-round in Truro.
Wilson was elected to the Academy in the graphic artists classification. In addition to engraving he worked in woodcut and lithography, all primarily in the service of book illustration. His favored subject was the sea and ships, as was reflected in a number of the books he illustrated, his large personal collection of antiquarian books, things to do with the sea, that he amassed during his lifetime, and the works he exhibited in the annual shows of the Salmagundi Club, and the Art Director's Club, as well as the Academy.
Among Wilson's more significant illustrations were those for editions of: Iron Men And Wooden Ships, 1924; Two Years Before The Mast, 1930, Robinson Crusoe, 1930; Last Of The Mohicans, 1932; Green Mansions, 1935; Anthony Adverse, 1937; Ranging The Maine Coast, 1939: Treasure Island, 1941; Westwood Ho, 1947: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, 1952; Around The World In Eight Days, 1962; and A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, 1966. A collection of his illustrations was published by Heritage Press in 1948.
After graduation from high school, Wilson worked days as a bookkeeper and took evening classes at the Art Institute, 1905-06, to prepare for a career as an engraver. In 1909, after some experience working in Chicago engraving and publishing houses, he left to study with Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware. He went to New York in 1911, where he began his career doing illustrations for magazines and advertising art; in time he was able to turn fully to work as a book illustration. Following his marriage in 1913, he made his home in the Jackson Heights section of Queens, with a summer residence in Truro, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and after 1947 lived year-round in Truro.
Wilson was elected to the Academy in the graphic artists classification. In addition to engraving he worked in woodcut and lithography, all primarily in the service of book illustration. His favored subject was the sea and ships, as was reflected in a number of the books he illustrated, his large personal collection of antiquarian books, things to do with the sea, that he amassed during his lifetime, and the works he exhibited in the annual shows of the Salmagundi Club, and the Art Director's Club, as well as the Academy.
Among Wilson's more significant illustrations were those for editions of: Iron Men And Wooden Ships, 1924; Two Years Before The Mast, 1930, Robinson Crusoe, 1930; Last Of The Mohicans, 1932; Green Mansions, 1935; Anthony Adverse, 1937; Ranging The Maine Coast, 1939: Treasure Island, 1941; Westwood Ho, 1947: Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, 1952; Around The World In Eight Days, 1962; and A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, 1966. A collection of his illustrations was published by Heritage Press in 1948.
