American, 1884 - 1952
Dunn, born and reared on a farm in South Dakota, received his first formal art instruction from Ada B. Caldwell at the South Dakota Agricultural College. He attended the Art Institute of Chicago from 1902 to 1904 and then went to Wilmington, Deleware for two years of study with Howard Pyle. In 1906 he established a studio in Wilmington and began to working as an illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post, a relationship which lasted until 1939.
In 1914 he moved to Leonia, New Jersey, where, in the summer of 1915 he and Charles S. Chapman opened a school, teaching illustration. Although the official life-span of the school was brief, the experience confirmed Dunn's enthusiasm for teaching, which would become a significant part of his life. When American entered World War I in 1918, Dunn was one of eight artists commissioned into the Corps of Engineers with the American Expeditionary Forces. Following this service in 1919 he established his residence in Tenafly, New Jersey.
In addition to his continuing work for the Post and other illustration commissions, easel painting, and murals--among them one done in 1926 on the history of New York City for the Lord & Taylor store--Dunn taught illustration at the Grand Central Art School, occasionally at the Art Students League, both in New York, and in his Tenafly studio. Dean Cornwell, John Steuart Curry, Jes Wilhelm Schlaikjer, and Grant Reynard were among his students.
Although Dunn's choice of subject matter in his paintings included portraits, historical incidents, landscapes, and marines, from 1915 throughout his life he focused much of his attention on paintings describing his family's pioneer experience in South Dakota. A large collection of Dunn's paintings is held by the South Dakota State University in Brookings.
In 1914 he moved to Leonia, New Jersey, where, in the summer of 1915 he and Charles S. Chapman opened a school, teaching illustration. Although the official life-span of the school was brief, the experience confirmed Dunn's enthusiasm for teaching, which would become a significant part of his life. When American entered World War I in 1918, Dunn was one of eight artists commissioned into the Corps of Engineers with the American Expeditionary Forces. Following this service in 1919 he established his residence in Tenafly, New Jersey.
In addition to his continuing work for the Post and other illustration commissions, easel painting, and murals--among them one done in 1926 on the history of New York City for the Lord & Taylor store--Dunn taught illustration at the Grand Central Art School, occasionally at the Art Students League, both in New York, and in his Tenafly studio. Dean Cornwell, John Steuart Curry, Jes Wilhelm Schlaikjer, and Grant Reynard were among his students.
Although Dunn's choice of subject matter in his paintings included portraits, historical incidents, landscapes, and marines, from 1915 throughout his life he focused much of his attention on paintings describing his family's pioneer experience in South Dakota. A large collection of Dunn's paintings is held by the South Dakota State University in Brookings.
