Paul Sample

Born: September 14, 1896

Died: February 26, 1974

Married: Sylvia Howland 1928

Paul Starrett Sample was an American artist who visited Saranac Lake from about 1921 to 1925 while his brother, Donald Sample, was curing here. During that time Paul was a student in drawing and painting of the prominent Norwegian artist, Jonas Lie, who was here with his wife, a patient herself. Paul Sample is said to have contracted tuberculosis here. It seems more likely that he had been previously exposed to it through his brother and it was discovered while he was visiting.

The 1988 book, "Paul Sample, Painter of the American Scene" published by the Hood Art Gallery at Dartmouth, makes the case for him as an important artist of the 1930s.

According to a brochure, "Original Art at Saranac Lake Free Library, 1991," the oil painting of Sample's that the library has is titled, Sunday School Class. The brochure says that he was "educated at Dartmouth and in 1938 became Artist-in-Residence " there, then took "time out to act as Artist/Correspondent for Life Magazine during the war." It suggests that ill health shortened his promising career.

Biography of Paul Sample from [[1]]

Paul Starrett Sample (September 14, 1896 in Louisville, Kentucky – February 26, 1974 in Norwich, Vermont) was an American artist who portrayed life in New England in the middle of the 20th Century with a style that showed elements of "Social Realism and Regionalism." Sample was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1896. After having moved across the country with his family on several occasions, Sample attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. There he studied architecture and graduated in 1921 after a year in the Naval Reserve during World War I. While visiting his brother, Donald, at a sanatorium in Saranac Lake, New York, Sample contracted tuberculosis. He stayed for treatment of that disease in Saranac Lake for four years. There he met Sylvia Howland, whom he married in 1928. At Saranac Lake, Sample studied drawing and painting under Jonas Lie. He then studied at the Art Students League of Los Angeles, and the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, California. There his work reflected social issues connected with the Great Depression with two noted paintings in 1931. In 1926 Sample joined the faculty of the University of Southern California in the school of architecture, where he remained until 1938. In 1938, he returned to New Hampshire to become the artist in residence at Dartmouth College, a position which he held until 1962. In addition to his social and regional paintings, Sample produced artwork for various magazines during World War II. Sample did the cover art for Carl Sandburg's 1948 novel Remembrance Rock. In 1941 he was inducted into the National Academy.

External links:

Wikipedia: [Sample]
[[2]]'s Hood Museum where Sample was an artist in residence has [items by Sample] in its collection
Caldwell Gallery: [of Paul Sample]