Lot 1139: BOYD SMITH, ELMER. 1860-1943.- "Another Outline. Or the Strange Story of Dennis the O'Geoghegan,"

"Another Outline. Or the Strange Story of Dennis the O'Geoghegan," watercolor with pen and ink, 215 x 250 mm. Matted. Front cover design for an unpublished book. Provenance : Christie's East, Apr 20, 1994, lot 154. Smith spent several years studying art in France before finally settling in Wilton, Connecticut. "While living abroad, Smith absorbed a wide swath of influences ranging from the muted, mystery-laden palette and epic vision of French muralist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes to the dashing graphic shorthand of poster artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec ... Smith's first two children's picture books, The Story of Noah's Ark (1905) and The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith (1906) immediately established him, alongside Howard Pyle and Jessie Willcox Smith, as one of America's leading illustrators for the young. He was well suited to the calling, thanks not only to his formidable skill as a draughtsman but also because of his genial storytelling manner and knack for conveying useful knowledge in a fresh, unforced, and delightful way" ( What Shall we Read to the Children: Treasures from the Hunt Collection , Brooklyn Public Library, online exhibition).