John R. Neill
John Rea Neill , born the November 27th 1877 and dead the September 13rd 1943, was a Illustrateur of books for children, mainly known to have illustrated forty stories relating to the Pays of OZ, in particular of the novels of L. Frank Baum, the novels of Ruth Plumly Thompson and its three novels. It also strongly took part in the illustration of newspapers.
Born with Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, John R. Neill carried out his first illustration for the newspaper of Philadelphia' S Central High School during the school year 1894-95. He then directed towards the advertizing Art for the store Wanamaker' S in Philadelphia. He was employed as an artist with the newspaper Philadelphia North American newspaper and produced images like “Life Among the Macaronis”, “The Fate off has Crown” (based on a novel of L. Frank Baum), “Children' S Stories That Never Grow Old” and the page of Sunday “The Little Journeys off Nip and Tuck”.
He had to illustrate off The Marvelous Land OZ , the second volume of L. Frank Baum, published in 1904; The Wonderful Wizard off OZ had been it by W.W. Denslow, with whom Baum argued and lost contact afterwards. Its first illustrations on the country of OZ were placed in the continuity of the illustrations of its predecessor, Denslow, in order to preserve the familiarity of the readers with the characters. Although the illustrations of Denslow remained popular, as the successive books appeared, Neill brought its single talent through more artistic illustrations and splendid paintings of many scenes. It was named the royal painter of OZ (Royal Painter off OZ).
In the illustrations of Denslow, Dorothy Gale seemed a girl of five or six years, with long brown hair capped in two braids. In 1907, Neill represented Dorothy differently: a girl of approximately 10 years, with fair hair, capped in bob, equipped with the American mode (of the time). In the same way, it brought up to date the appearance of the other female characters.
Neill continued to illustrate the novels of OZ after the death of Baum, and its work was to encourage to help Thompson to obtain a legitimacy with the eyes of the fans of Baum. He writes itself three novels on the country of OZ, at the request of Reilly & Lee, published of 1940 with 1942: The Wonder City off OZ , The Scalawagons off OZ , and Lucky Bucky in OZ . Although it supplemented part of The Runaway in OZ , it illustrated it nor not published.
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