Mary Petty
Encyclopedia
Mary Petty was an illustrator of books and magazines best remembered for a series of covers done for The New Yorker
featuring her invented Peabody family.
In 1922, Petty graduated from the Horace Mann School in New York City, and five years later she and cartoonist Alan Dunn
were married. Petty first sold work to The New Yorker in 1927 under the encouragement of her husband, who had already sold cartoons to the magazine. Her style was characterized by her "gentle satirization of New York City's Victorian era society."
Petty was a naturally reticent person, and while her work began appearing in the lauded new magazine, Petty herself did not come to The New Yorker offices for some time and thus "for a long time nothing at all was known about her—except that she regularly submitted a new and distinctive kind of drawing." Even after becoming a part of the office scene, few knew her well. James Thurber
said all he knew of her background was that she "was born in a brownstone house on West End Avenue
. Her father was a professor. She did not have a particularly happy childhood. That's all, brother."
Petty rarely took ideas from outside sources (only twice, according to Thurber).
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
featuring her invented Peabody family.
In 1922, Petty graduated from the Horace Mann School in New York City, and five years later she and cartoonist Alan Dunn
Alan Dunn (cartoonist)
Alan Dunn was a cartoonist known for his work in The New Yorker. He also had architectural expertise and submitted work to Architectural Record...
were married. Petty first sold work to The New Yorker in 1927 under the encouragement of her husband, who had already sold cartoons to the magazine. Her style was characterized by her "gentle satirization of New York City's Victorian era society."
Petty was a naturally reticent person, and while her work began appearing in the lauded new magazine, Petty herself did not come to The New Yorker offices for some time and thus "for a long time nothing at all was known about her—except that she regularly submitted a new and distinctive kind of drawing." Even after becoming a part of the office scene, few knew her well. James Thurber
James Thurber
James Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
said all he knew of her background was that she "was born in a brownstone house on West End Avenue
West End Avenue
West End Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, not far from the Hudson River.West End Avenue originates at West 59th Street; the continuation of the street below 59th Street is called Eleventh Avenue. It runs from 59th Street to its...
. Her father was a professor. She did not have a particularly happy childhood. That's all, brother."
Petty rarely took ideas from outside sources (only twice, according to Thurber).
External links
- Alan Dunn and Mary Petty Papers 1907-1972 at Syracuse University (primary source material)