Following on from my feature on artists in advertising which opened with Laurence Fellows, I would like to introduce today William Meade Prince.

Prince was born on 9th July 1893 in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. At the age of five his family moved to Chapel Hill where he lived with his mother and grandfather, the Reverend William Meade. At fifteen he moved to Birmingham, Illinois and worked as a railway clerk saving his money to take him to art college.

Two advertisements from 1923 which show Meade experimenting with technique

In 1913 Prince began his art training at the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts, graduating in 1915. After winning an art competition sponsored by Collier’s Magazine, he started his career as a book and magazine illustrator. His work appeared in numerous prestigious magazines and during the period 1924 and 1940 he produced 48 cover illustrations for the magazine, Country Gentleman. His career saw him produce work for the Saturday Evening Post, The Ladies Home Journal, Colliers, The American Magazine, the Woman’s Home Journal plus many illustrations for books.

Prince returned to Chapel Hill in 1936 working at times as a lecturer at the University Art department. During WWII Prince created numerous posters and illustrations as part of the war effort and it was during this period that he became head of the Art Department at the University of North Carolina. In addition to this, from 1942 to 1943 he also created and illustrated the comic strip ‘Aladdin Jr’, with Les Forgrave providing the text.

To illustrate this article, I have chosen a series of adverts Prince produced for Dodge Brother Cars during 1923-1926.

Observation of the artwork clearly illustrates the skill which Prince possesses as an artist. His detail and accuracy of the vehicles are as you would expect for a valued client such as Dodge Brothers, but what Prince brings to the piece as his own - and typical of all his work - is the beautiful detail of the people he portrays. He is equally good at depicting both young and old alike, often introducing a large element of humour into the story he is trying to portray.

A trio of advertisements by William Meade Prince for
Dodge Brothers ‘Coach’, ‘Special Coach’, and ‘Special Touring Car’ in 1925

My view is that if he can put a smile on the face of the reader, then that reader is more likely to view the product in a favourable light AND pay a bit more attention to the product that is being offered for sale. The whole point of these pictures is to get the reader to stop and read the associated editorial extolling the virtues of the advertised car. In my opinion, Prince achieves this easily as I know I ended up with a smile on my face after looking at the adverts - and yes, I did go on to read the editorial!

Unfortunately for us all, this story has a sad ending in that Prince died in 1951. However, I am sure you will agree that his legacy remains for us to enjoy within these wonderful, imaginative works of art.

Its been a treat to share with you a short biography of American painter and illustrator, William Meade Prince. Join me in July for another fascinating tale from the archives.

See you then! Richard