Illustration Magazine

Better known by the nickname Eric that he embraced (given to him by his family to differentiate him from his identically named father), he was a versatile American artist, teacher, book, newspaper, and magazine illustrator, and theatrical designer at the beginning half to the last century. A precociously talented youth, Pape built early critical success at the all-important Paris Salons of the 1890’s into an artistic career underpinned as head of one of the largest and most popular American art schools of his time.

An intimate of prominent industrialists, writers, actors, and politicians, his prodigious output of art was widely exhibited and lauded in Europe and America, and his activities outside the confines of his art were extensively covered in the national press. 

Sadly, after a stroke on a New York street struck him down in 1938, the once prominent and celebrated American artist and his accomplishments faded rapidly from memory to anonymity.

Pape had maintained possession of the the vast majority of his life’s work during his lifetime, both fine art and many hundreds of illustrations, and the complete contents of his extensive studios remained unseen by the public for the next seven decades. His studio contents have only recently become available for renewed study and appreciation.