With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
J. Clinton Shepherd
Illustration, Painting/Drawing, Sculpture
1888 – 1975
Well known illustrator in the early decades of the twentieth century, Shepherd was part of the movement of artists and intellectuals to the Fairfield County suburbs. For a time he was a sculptor of bronzes, and later in life a painter and art gallery owner.
- Biography/Description of Work
A mid-Westerner, J. Clinton Shepherd studied at the School of Fine Arts in Kansas City, Missouri before entering the Art Institute of Chicago. After serving in World War I, he moved to New York City where he became an illustrator for magazines such as Collier’s and the Saturday Evening Post. In 1925, Shepherd and his wife moved to Westport, and shortly after was commissioned to create a World War I monument for the town. It was a good fit given his wartime service and membership in the WWI Pilots Association - he understood the sacrifice of those who served. During the Great Depression, it became difficult for Shepherd to find work as many magazines were unable to survive or continue to pay illustrators. In 1938, Shepherd accepted a teaching position at a university in Florida, and moved his family there. Here he remained, eventually dedicating his time to painting. and his family moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he eventually opened his own studio. Here, Shepherd dedicated his time to painting, eventually giving up teaching. He remained in Florida for the rest of his life, and continued to paint until his death at the age of 86 in 1975.
- Sources view
- Connecticut State Library online accessed 6/26/2014: iconn.org or http://www.cslib.org/iconnsitemap/staff/SiteIndex.aspx#directories
Carley, Rachel. Creative Places: Modern Arts and Letters in Connecticut. Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation & State Historic Preservation Office, 2014.
Fieldguide to US Public Monuments and Memorials accessed 6/26/2014 at http://www.monumentsandmemorials.com/report.php?id=1836
Hartmann, Jennifer A.; An Artistic Charmer in Westport, Minuteman News Center, September 23, 2010 accessed 6/26/2014 at http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2010/09/23/fairfieldcounty_life/doc4c9a3eba2ce8e624923080.txt?viewmode=default
Local Historic District and Property Commissions in Connecticut accessed 6/26/2014 at http://www.historicdistrictsct.org/ - Associated Resource(s)