Saul Tepper - part 2

Saul Tepper (1899 – 1987) was an American illustrator and later a popular songwriter. Tepper studied under illustrator Harvey Dunn at the Grand Central School of Art in New York City. 

Tepper began his career with Albert Dorne as a letterer for fashion catalogues but went on to do story illustrations for the most popular magazines of the day. Additionally, his illustrations appeared in advertising for major companies such as General Electric, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Mobil, and Texaco. In the 1950s, Tepper created television commercials while an art director for J. Walter Thompson advertising agency. 

Later in life he became a popular songwriter whose work was recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, and Harry James. He was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1980.

For more biographical information, and for earlier works by Saul Tepper, see part 1 also.

This is part 2 of a 3-part post on the works of Saul Tepper:

1932 "Wager lifted his own voice in a great echoing Shout."
 oil on canvas 88.9 x 100.4 cm

1933 Couple standing in the Dunes
McCalls magazine illustration
oil on canvas 90.2 x 55.9 cm

c1933 Change of Heart
oil on canvas 61 x 102 cm

1935 Loading Lumber
American Magazine story illustration
gouache on board 23.5 x 43.2 cm

c1935 The Spoilers
gouache on board 40.7 x 43.2 cm

1937 The lady who Promised
oil on board 56.5 x 49.5 cm

1937 (No information found)

1939 Couple Embracing
oil on canvas 83.8 x 81.3 cm

1939 Rapids
oil on canvas 58.4 x 101.6 cm

1940 Hello Joe
gouache on board 43.1 x 35.5 cm

c1940 Poker Game
oil on canvas laid on panel 98.4 x 100 cm

1940s The Disagreement
oil on canvas 81.3 x 81.4 cm

1942 Speak only with your Heart
McCall's magazine Illustration
oil on canvas 55.8 x 99 cm

1944 Loose Lips Sink Ships
oil on canvas 71.1 x 83.8 cm

1944 We Caught Hell! - someone must have talked
WWII poster 102 x 74 cm

1945 Portrait Of Grace Moore
oil on canvas 101.6 x 76.2 cm

1945 Portrait of a Blonde
gouache on board 19 x 16.5 cm

1953 Signet Books No.1063
Home is Upriver by Brian Harwin

1954 A Touch of Death
Gold Medal Books

1954 Cover illustration for "I’ll Take Whats Mine" By Nard Jones"
Published by Gold Medal Books

1954 I’ll Take Whats Mine By Nard Jones
Published by Gold Medal Books

1954 Guilty Bystander
Signet Books

1956 artwork
details not found

Cobbler's Shop
details not found

Cobbler's Shop detail

Cobbler's Shop detail

Couple Standing in Dunes
oil on canvas 89.4 x 55.8 cm

Dixie
charcoal on paper 19 x 16.5 cm

Saul Tepper - part 1

Saul Tepper (left)

Saul Tepper (1899 – 1987) was born to eastern European immigrants on the lower east side of Manhattan. Hard work was the key to success there, and Saul Tepper was no exception. By 19, he was working full time in his own lettering studio while studying art at night and on weekends. He found William DeLeftwich Dodge’s composition classes at Cooper Union and George Bridgeman’s “ideas in drawing” at the Art Students League, were important influences. But his most important influence came later, under Harvey Dunn at the Grand Central Art School and at Dunn’s Tenafly, New Jersey, studio.

After graduating from Cooper Union, Saul acquired a job in a studio as a lettering man. There, he had his first chance to do some figure work in oil. In 1925, at the Van Dyke Studios he branched out as an illustrator. For the next few years, his work developed under the guidance of Harvey Dunn. Saul’s first sample from his new studio was purchased by Liberty magazine, who created a story around it. Collier’s followed shortly thereafter, as did the Curtis Publishing group (Ladies Home Journal, Saturday Evening Post and Country Gentleman) then came Woman’s Home Companion, The American, Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. By the mid 1930’s, Saul’s style had become recognisable and commanded high fees

Saul had a strong love of music which has led to many published songs and resulted in a membership in ASCAP in 1941. He created many of the songs for the popular “Illustrators Shows,” produced by the Society of Illustrators. The Illustrators Barbershop Quartet, with Saul as baritone, was a highlight of those productions. Over the years, Saul’s music has been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Harry James and many others. The period between World War I and II was Saul’s “Golden Age,” an era of romance and adventure in which he, Cornwell and Rockwell played an important part. Reproduced in the major magazines for four decades, Saul’s work became a source of inspiration for many artists of that period.

In the 1950’s, still an active artist for the new adventure magazines (True, Argosy and Real), Saul reached a point of dissatisfaction. He became TV art director for J. Walter Thompson and BBD&O, creating images for TV commercials. He also continued with his music, composing the Red Cross theme song for 1960-1961.

This is part 1 of a 3-part post on the works of Saul Tepper:

n.d. Rough Sketches by Tepper:

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1925 Under the Gun
oil on canvas 91.4 x 78.7 cm

1926 Ambush
oil on canvas 60.9 x 91.4 cm

1926 Chesterfield Cigarettes advertisement

1927 I know we've saved its running cost
General Electric Refrigerator
advertisement in The Saturday Evening Post

1927 The Patient
The Saturday Evening Post
oil on canvas 76.8 x 101.6 cm

1928 Original artwork
(details not found)

1928 Original artwork
(details not found)

1928 The Old Ledgers
oil on canvas 27.3 x 84.4 cm

1928 The Old Ledgers detail

1928 The Old Ledgers detail

1929 "Dearest, I'm Glover McKay.'"he said...
oil on canvas 71.2 x 102 cm

1930 Now a 3, General Electric All-Steel Refrigerator
advertisement original artwork
oil on canvas 96.5 x 76.2 cm

1930 Now a 3, General Electric All-Steel Refrigerator
advertisement
oil on canvas 38 x 30 cm

1931 Among the Ice Cubes
General Electric refrigerator advertisement
oil on canvas 91.4 x 88.9 cm

1931 People in a Modern Office
oil on canvas 71.1 x 104.1 cm

1931 The New Regridgerator
oil on canvas 91.4 x 91.4 cm

1931 To the Health of the American family..
General Electric Refrigerator advertisement

1931-32 Western Confrontation (The Tall Ladder)
The American Magazine story illustration

1932 Fallen Cowboy
oil on canvas 71.1 x 111.7 cm

1932 Heinz Tomato Juice
advertisement
oil on canvas 33 x 43.2 cm

1932 Lucky Strike Cigarettes
advertisement

1932 The American Magazine
September 1932

1932 The Tall Ladder
"Wager lifted his own voice in a great echoing shout"
oil on canvas 88.9 x 100.4 cm
The American Magazine, September 1932
artwork

1932 The Tall Ladder
The American Magazine, September 1932

1932 The Tall Ladder
Western Confrontation
oil on canvas 107.9 x 168.9 cm