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Frank Earle Schoonover (1877-1972) was enamoured with Howard Pyle’s magazine work from the time he was a young boy in Trenton, New Jersey. After youthful endeavours copying Pyle’s illustrations, Schoonover joined his class at Drexel Institute in 1896. The young artist’s promising talent was duly noted by his teacher and he was offered scholarships to Pyle’s summer school in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Schoonover was well known for his illustrations of outdoor adventure stories, especially of the Canadian and American West. He maintained a studio in Wilmington throughout his career and, with Stanley Arthurs, was a founder in 1912 of the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts, the predecessor of the Delaware Art Museum. The Frank E. Schoonover Manuscript Collection contains photographs, correspondence, clippings, organisational records, diaries, and day books that document the work he executed. Delaware Art Museum

For a more in-depth biography see part 1, and for earlier works by Schoonover, see parts 1 – 4 also. 

This is part 5 of 7-part series on the works of Frank Schoonover.

1920 Strike a Light American Boy Magazine oil 91.4 x 60.9 cm

1920 The Man from the North oil on canvas 71.1 x 91.4 cm

1920 The whirling blizzard American Boy Magazine, November 1920 oil 81.2 x 71.1 cm

1920 Under the Silk oil on canvas 63.5 x 76.2 cm

1921 Connie Morgan in the Fur Country, published by Putnam’s Sons:

“For there, standing close beside the fire, his head and huge shoulders thrust into the doorway, his eyes gleaming like live coals, stood the great grey leader of the wolf pack.”

“The third day dawned cold and clear, and daylight found the outfit on the move”

“It was a terrible thing to look upon to those two who knew its significance—that flag glowing like a splotch of blood there in the brazen sky.”

“The snare was set only a foot or two from the stuffed rabbit skin and sticks and brush so arranged that in order to reach the rabbit the lynx must leap straight into the snare.”

“Mexican Joe climbed the tree and a few minutes later Connie heard the blows of his belt ax as he hacked at the limb that held the clog.”

“As darkness settled over the North Country, a little fire twinkled in the bush, and the odour of sizzling bacon and frying liver permeated the cozy camp.”

“As he stepped through the doorway he was seized violently from behind.”

1921 Lafayette by Lucy Foster Madison:

Front Cover

Lafayette and General Washington oil on canvas 91.4 x 76.2 cm

The skipper met Lafayette’s glance with determination

1921 Toilers of the Trails by George Marsh, The Penn Publishing Co., Philadelphia:

Front Cover

Frontispiece “On came the strange pair”

Again at his signal the crew thrust the boat forward

Gordon drank in the beauty of the picture

The freezing man was dragged to safety

The rifle flew to his shoulder

“Up dere,” he said, pointing with a shaking finger

“I am François Hertel”

1921 Treasure Island, published by Harper & Brothers:

Front Cover

Long John Silver oil on canvas 91.4 x 63.5 cm