An American Summer
An American Summer
Dean Cornwell
The Stage was Set... and Then Came the Upset!
Lot Closed
July 20, 04:53 PM GMT
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dean Cornwell
1892 - 1960
The Stage was Set... and Then Came the Upset!
initialed DC and dated 27 (lower left)
oil on canvas
canvas: 40 ¼ by 30 inches (102.2 by 76.2 cm)
framed: 43 by 32 ¾ inches (109.2 by 83.2 cm)
Acquired by the present owner from the above, circa 2017
The present work was originally conceived as an advertisement for Scripps-Howard Newspapers, which appeared in the June 4, 1927, issue of The Saturday Evening Post. The advertisement concluded, “Public Trust is the product of Public Service” and promoted the newspaper’s dedication “to fearless public service.” The scene illustrated in the subject work was narrated as follows:
“In a midwestern city, the stage was all set to jam through a 'loaded' franchise over the veto of an honest mayor.
On the day set for the big grab, a SCRIPPS-HOWARD Newspaper emblazoned its front page with the word 'DANGER' in red block letters . . .
The townspeople were advised by the paper to go to the Council Hall en masse and protest the impending steal.
Several thousand gathered - an orderly crowd but ominous. The ordinance died a silent death.”