Mead Schaeffer (1898 – 1980) was an American illustrator active during the late golden age of illustration.
Schaeffer studied at the Pratt Institute, learning from his teachers Harvey Dunn and Charles Chapman. Schaeffer’s early projects were often critiqued by Dunn. Schaeffer illustrated the first of seven ‘Golden Boy’ books written by L. P. Wyman while he studied.
In 1922, Schaeffer illustrated a series of classic novels for publisher Dodd Mead, whom he continued to work for until 1930. He illustrated Moby Dick, Typee, and Omoo by Herman Melville, as well as The Count of Monte Cristo and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
During the 1930s and 1940s, Schaeffer illustrated for magazines such as Good Housekeeping, McCall’s, The Ladies Home Journal, Country Gentleman, and Cosmopolitan. He illustrated a total of 46 covers for the weekly Saturday Evening Post.
Schaeffer worked as a war correspondent during World War II for the Saturday Evening Post. He produced a series of covers illustrating American military personnel which he became well-known for.
Like many artists and illustrators of his time, Schaeffer lived in New Rochelle, New York, for some time. However, he mainly lived in Arlington, Vermont, in his barn-studio.
Cited:
http://www.artnet.com/artists/mead-schaeffer/
