J. FREDERICK SMITH (1917-2006)
Born in Pasadena, California in 1917, J. Frederick Smith attended the Chouinard School of Art in Los Angeles on a Walt Disney scholarship, where he studied painting and design. In 1938 he moved to New York City and joined the prestigious Charles E. Cooper studio. There, Smith produced work for many major magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Red Book, and others. His best-known work came during World War II, when he contracted with Esquire magazine to produce monthly pin-up pictures a la Alberto Vargas and George Petty—the type of art that would be seen painted on American B-52 bombers.
     As the magazines transitioned from illustration to photography, Smith began shooting fashion photos for Vogue. Smith had long used elaborate photo reference as the basis for his illustration work, so it wasn't a great leap to move into studio photography. He excelled in this new line of work, and produced photography for all of the major fashion magazines. Smith shot for Cosmopolitan, Essence, Look, and Town & Country, as well as commercial clients like Ford, Cartier, Smirnoff vodka, and Revlon. His sensuous photographs of women for magazines like Playboy, Oui, and Viva during the 1970s brought Smith his greatest fame. Smith published several notable books on photograhy, including Sappho: The Art of Loving Women; Always a Woman, and J. Frederick Smith: Photographing Sensuality.

Currently available works by J. FREDERICK SMITH:

J. FREDERICK SMITH 1

Cosmopolitan magazine illustration—1950. Gouache on illustration board.14.5 x 21.75 inches (image size). 20 x 29.25 (board size.) Unframed. Signed lower left corner.

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J. FREDERICK SMITH 2

Good Housekeeping magazine illustration "Love on Channel 3"—January 1952. Gouache on illustration board. 17 x 19.5 inches. Unframed. Signed lower right corner.

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J. FREDERICK SMITH 3

Collier's magazine illustration—December 18, 1948. Gouache on illustration board. 12 x 14.5 inches. Unframed. Signed lower right corner. Perfect condition.


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