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The Artist You Know....Even If You Don't Know His Name

Updated: Sep 2, 2021


If you have ever read Jack London's the Call of the Wild with illustrations, then you have seen the work of Philip R. Goodwin.

Philip R. Goodwin was born in New London, Connecticut in 1881 to John Bray Goodwin and Ella Willoughby Raymond, both from impressive lineages.

Philip was one of five children. The oldest was Theodore Raymond, whose son married into my Layman line, then came Russell, who died shortly after birth. Philip had two younger sisters, Alice & Irene Goodwin.

Philip spent his spare time doodling and drawing as much as he could. At the age of 11, Philip sold his first piece of art to Collier's Magazine. His life's path was set as far as he could see.

He was a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design as well as the Arts Student League of New York City and the Drexel University of Art, Science and Industry.

One of the highlights of Philip's career was helping to illustrate Jack London's widely acclaimed, "The Call of the Wild."

He also illustrated Theodore Roosevelt's "African Game Trial Trails". This started a life long friendship between the two men.

​Throughout his career, Philip provided work in magazines including Collier's Weekly, The Popular Magazine and McClure's Magazine. His work also appeared on several covers of The

Saturday Evenings Post, a bimonthly magazine. The most famous cover artist of The Saturday Evening Post was Norman Rockwell.

Philip's covers were as follows:

Moose Swimming - 14 October 1905

Woman on Horseback - 9 June 1906

Cowboy on Horse - 3 February 1906

Goodwin is also famous for creating the famous Winchester logo of a galloping horse and rider with a Winchester rifle.

Later in his career, Philip suffered a rough time during the Great Depression where his work was primarily commissioned based. His primary activities during this time included gun ads and calendars.

Philip led an extremely private life and there are not many things known about him.

Like many famous artists, Philip's work gained popularity after his death. Many of his paintings have been auctioned off at world-famous auction houses such as Christie's in New York City.

In February 2011, a painting was appraised on Antique Roadshow, a show on PBS, for $125,000.

Philip never married but continued to stay very involved with his family, being devoutly loyal to his mother until the end of her life in 1924.

Philip was living in Mamaroneck, Long Island at the time of his death in 1935 from pneumonia being survived by only one sibling.

There is more information on him here.


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