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ARTHUR LIDOV, From WPA to America's foremost Medical and Science Illustrator and Master Painter.




Arthur Lidov 1917(Chicago)-1990(NY)

Arthur Lidov was “the” favorite artist of our stable of artist/friends - Arthur was my wife's mentor.

Arthur Lidov was a true Renaissance man. He holds the patent for the insertable spoke-less bicycle wheel which was impervious to flats! He developed a new technique for bas relief and developed and extended Namias methods of photo-sculpture. To say it mildly, Arthur was a genius.

His illustrations have great depth, bringing illustration Art to a higher level – yes, it was Commercial Art but some could hold their own on a museum wall.

He was going to teach Roberta (my wife) the lost art of egg tempera. When we heard the news of his sudden passing (heart), we were deeply saddened. I love his work and over the years have purchased quite a few from Arthur. He had a special glow regarding my affinity with certain pieces. I was a photographer whose business was not doing well, and was forced to sell some of my treasured works by my artist friends. One such work was the famed cover art by Arthur Lidov of the first edition of Ray Bradbury’s The Martian Chronicles.

Most people do not realize the significance of the mark he has made. He has influenced numerous artists and his work is fascinating as you will see. Education: University of Chicago BA in 1936 and a Graduate Fellow in Art History.
WPA: Murals and Sculptures Commissions 1939
Select Exhibitions: Art Institute of Chicago, 1933, 1934, 1941.
Pineapple Gallery, 1943
National Academy of Art, 1958.
Museum of Modern Art, 1962.
J. Walter Thompson Gallery, 1964.
Awards: Art Director’s Club Award, 1952, 1953, and 1959.
Illustrator’s Club, NY, 1963, 1973, and 1974.
American Institute of Graphic Arts Award, 1963.

Arthur Lidov had a large working studio in Manhattan’s East 60’s. He had an interesting neighbor who also had his working studio right next door; Mark Rothko. A sad fact, was that Arthur Lidov, who had such a vast medical knowledge, examined Rothko after his tragic 1970 suicide and pronounced him dead. Though Rothko was completely Abstract and Arthur Lidov wholly figurative, both got along very well and discussed art for hours on end. At this time, Arthur was the foremost medical illustrator in the country. His portraits grace the covers of The American Mercury. He has additionally created covers for The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers and Fortune Magazine.

Visiting his home was always memorable, not unlike going to the home of a famous scientist. Alongside the artwork were scientific apparatus. I took my young son on one visit. He was enthralled with a large nude sculpture of a woman. He had a big smile and took a few pictures. He never saw the likes of this before! We miss you Arthur.

We fortunately have a study of one of Arthur's major works, The Net That Secretes Mathematics. It was an entry into the popular Museum of Modern Art exhibition, The Figure. Please see painting below.

Arthur Lidov in his studio. Photograph by Stuart Friedman.






Genesis. 1945. Tempera on Artist Illustration Board.


The Net That Secretes Mathematics. Exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art Show, The Figure. 1962.Private Collection.





Nerve Net. Study for The Net that Secretes Mathematics 1961

Verso




The Young Biologist. 1962. Bronze.
Detail

Verso

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