Dean Cornwell
1892-1960 I American

The Governor Was Speaking Now...

Signed “Dean/Cornwell” (lower left)
Oil on canvas

American illustrator Dean Cornwell's compelling painting The Governor Was Speaking Now... captures a young man in a moment of reflection and contemplation amidst a bustling political event. Renowned for his ability to tell a story in a single image, Cornwell painted the composition to accompany Vina Delmar's novelette "A Matter of Honor" in the November 1942 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine. The tale centers on a handsome young Joseph, who discovers his father's criminal past. Fearing it may affect his beloved's view of him, Joseph departs to serve in WWII. When he triumphantly returns as a hero, he realizes his courage is reason enough for his lover to marry him.

Cornwell has expertly captured the narrative moment in which the governor gives a speech during a ceremony to honor Joseph's victorious return. Amid animated conversations and cigar-smoking, Joseph's contemplative demeanor and introspection stands out. His self-discovery is echoed by Delmar's words: "The governor was speaking now. He had been speaking forever, it seemed. Joseph had not been listening. He caught sentences now and then" (V. Delmar, "A Matter of Honor," Cosmopolitan, November 1942, p. 120).

Dean Cornwell’s influence on American illustration was formidable. At the zenith of his fame, he earned the moniker "Dean of Illustrators," and helped shape the unique American societal landscape through his realistic and thought-provoking genre paintings. Cornwell began his artistic journey at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving o New Rochelle, New York, a renowned artists' enclave, in 1915. His extensive oeuvre encompasses more than 1,000 illustrations for nearly every prominent publication in the nation, including Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar and Good Housekeeping. Notably, his creative talents breathed visual life into the literary works of celebrated authors such as Edna Ferber and Ernest Hemingway. In addition to his prolific artistic output, Cornwell taught at the Art Students League in New York and was the president of the Society of Illustrators from 1922 to 1926. His remarkable career culminated in an induction into the illustrious Hall of Fame in 1959, a mere year prior to his passing.

This work is pictured in V. Delmar, "A Matter of Honor," Cosmopolitan, November 1942, pp. 20-21, illustrated.

Painted 1942