Frank C. McCarthy (1924 to 2002)
A native of New York City, Frank McCarthy’s fascination with the American West began with an assignment to produce a western image for a book cover. At the time, McCarthy was a successful illustrator whose works had appeared in such leading publications as Collier’s, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Reader’s Digest, Outdoor Life, and American Magazine. In addition he was frequently asked to provide illustrations for the leading book publishers of the day and for most of the major movie studios. He had attained status and as of the leading American illustrators at a relatively early age. His first western illustration assignment came in 1950 when he was only 26.
He studied at the Art Students League as well as the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn and had trained under the tutelage of Reginald Marsh. While his career as an illustrator led him to research a wide variety of historic periods and subjects, he often returned to western subjects and by 1968, he was ready to make the transition from painting for magazines, books, and the movie studios, to a full time pursuit of painting western canvases for gallery representation.
He quickly established his reputation as one of the top western painters in the country and was eventually inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America. He moved to Sedona, Arizona in 1974 and remained there until his death in 2002. Throughout his career as a western artist, McCarthy depicted several historical eras and subjects, but his greatest affinity perhaps was for the native cultures of the American West. Although his easel paintings, need not be tied to a specific incident in western American history, he frequently used his research into that subject as the basis for his art. The scenes that he painted sprang from his imagination, but they were grounded in his reading of history and often are based on well documented events.
McCarthy’s works are found in many private and public collections and his work has been featured in museums such as the Gilcrease in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Information courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries, July 2009.
Frank C. McCarthy, born in New York, studied at the Arts Student League and the Pratt Institute. He is most well known for his paintings of plains Indians, however he has also produced dozens of illustrations for magazines such as “Colliers”, “Redbook,” and “Outdoor Life,” as well as for paperback book covers, and for movie posters. He lived in Arizona before he passed away in 2002 and exhibited widely. He was also elected to the Cowboy Artists of America and the Illustrators Hall of Fame.
Information courtesy of Cowan’s Auctions, November 2003