Dean Cornwell (American, 1892-1960). Wright Brothers, Good Year Calendar illustration, 1953. Oil on canvas. 38 x 35 inch...

Description

Dean Cornwell (American, 1892-1960)
Wright Brothers, Good Year Calendar illustration, 1953
Oil on canvas
38 x 35 inches (96.5 x 88.9 cm)
Signed lower left: Dean / Cornwell

Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Dean Cornwell's Wright Brothers captures the spirit of American innovation and aspiration through the lens of Scouting. Commissioned as a calendar illustration for Goodyear and distributed by the Boy Scouts of America, the painting dramatizes the legacy of Wilbur and Orville Wright-not only as pioneers of flight but as enduring role models for young Americans.

Cornwell, often called the "Dean of Illustrators," masterfully layers symbolism into the composition. Towering at the center is the Wright Brothers National Memorial ?located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, etched with their names and flanked by soaring birds, a classic emblem of freedom and flight. In the sky, their portraits are rendered as visionary icons, presiding over the launch of their historic biplane. Below, a Scoutmaster and two Scouts-emblems of youthful curiosity and preparedness-look upward in awe, connecting past achievement to future promise.

This image resonates deeply within BSA culture. Since its founding, the Boy Scouts of America has championed ideals of exploration, ingenuity, and civic pride. The Wright brothers exemplify those values: self-taught, disciplined, and devoted to pushing boundaries. By aligning their story with Scouting, Cornwell reinforces the idea that greatness is born of character, persistence, and imagination.

Originally circulated widely as part of the BSA-Goodyear calendar series, this image helped inspire generations of Scouts. It's a visual anthem to American progress, seen not just through the marvel of flight but through the wonder in a young Scout's gaze-ever upward.


More information about Dean Cornwell. See also: Cornwell, Dean Artist.

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