About
Paul Brown is probably the most sought after American equine illustrator; books illustrated by him regularly reach substantial prices, dwarfing what his English contemporaries can achieve.
Paul Desmond Brown (1893–1958) was born in Minnesota. As a child, he filled sketchbooks with pencil drawings of horses. One of his teachers at the High School of Commerce described him thus: “no dreamy, sad eyed exotic type was he…. Just a plain, healthy American lad.. He had something very definite to say, and a very clear manner of saying it.” At 18, he left the school to start his own commercial art business. He worked steadily until the outbreak of World War I, when he served with the First Light Infantry Division. He finished the war at the front near St Mihiel in France, and escaped death by a hair’s breadth when a grenade missed him as he turned his head. He married Sallie Smith Brown in 1923, and they had three children. As Paul Brown’s success continued, he was often away from his family drawing equestrian events at first hand.
After the war, Paul Brown set up as Black and White by Brown, continuing to do commercial illustration. He became a fixture at polo matches, helping to launch Polo magazine in 1927. Biscotti calls him “the first artist to accurately portray the polo pony in action”; it is perhaps fairer to call him the first American artist to do so. The English artist Gilbert Holiday, whom Guy Paget thought the most successful artist to tackle polo, was active at the same time. In the 1930s, Brown began to illustrate for Brooks Brothers. it was a successful arrangement on both sides. Brown said of his relationship with the firm: “we’ve never had an unpleasant word.” Winthrop H Brooks, Chairman of the Board of Brooks Brothers Inc thought Brown superb at horses and dogs; good at men but “we keep him away from women pretty much — his women are not so hot, though he can do an occasional tweedy girl, or one in jodphurs.” It was during the 1930s that Paul Brown started to illustrate books; which he soon recognised as an excellent source of regular income. He wrote and illustrated 19 children’s books, 13 other books, and illustrated over 100 books by other authors.
He retains an immense appeal. Robin Bledsoe explained his attraction thus: “Know your subject. Make every stroke tell a story or express a feeling. Show extremes of action in taut lines and diagonals. Balance the masses and spaces in your composition. Be spontaneous. Never copy.” But perhaps most important of all was Brown’s love of life, which still radiates through his drawings.
Finding the books
It would not be either an easy or a cheap task to collect all of the books that Paul Brown wrote and illustrated. Some ex-library titles can be picked up fairly reasonably, but many titles, particularly in good condition, are very expensive indeed.
Links and sources
M L Biscotti & Robin Bledsoe: Paul Brown: Master of Equine Art, Derrydale Press, Lanham & New York, 2001
A few examples of Paul Brown’s art
Terri A. Wear: Horse Stories, an Annotated Bibliography, Scarecrow Press, 1987
Guy Paget: Sporting Pictures of England, London, 1945
Stella Walker: British Sporting Art in the Twentieth Century, The Sportsman’s Press, 1989
Many thanks to all the people who sent me photographs: Susan Bourgeau, Alison McCallum, Sarah, Lisa Catz
Series
Perkins Family
Crazy Quilt
Piper’s Pony
3 Rings
Circus School
Mick and Mack
Bud and Lynn
Pony Farm
Pony School
Bibliography
HORSE BOOKS WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY PAUL BROWN
Crazy Quilt, Circus Pony
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1934, 120 pp
Reprinted several times
Crazy Quilt and Oscar are ponies who perform in the circus. They are taken to their owner’s farm for a holiday so that they can spend some time with Peter and Pam.
Piper’s Pony, the Story of Patchwork
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1935, 120 pp
This is the story of Piper and his Shetland pony Patchwork, whose birthday is on Christmas Day.
War Paint, an Indian Pony
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1936, 96 pp
War Paint is born on the range, and grows up to be a proud stallion; when Grey Eagle catches the colt and tames him, he becomes a fine war pony.
Puff Ball
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1942, 32 pp
As Sparkie and Puffball, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1954, 32 pp
Sparkie Parker lives on a farm, but he dreams of ranches and cowboys and Indians. One day he gets the chance to go to a real ranch, and there he meets Puff Ball, a pony with his own opinions on everything.
Hi Guy, the Cinderella Horse
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1944, 62 pp
A true story: Hi Guy is rescued from a pound and brought back to health, when he competes (and wins) at Madison Square Gardens. Robin was an aged horse, abandoned when hisowner moved away. When the starving horse was found, he was taken to the pound. Just before he was to be destroyed, a man bought the horse for $5, took him home, and his family set to work to restore the horse. Robin is renamed Hi Guy, and goes from rags to riches when his talent for jumping is discovered.
Circus School
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1946, 64 pp
This is one of the Perkins family books: not a story as such, but an alphabet book.
Merrylegs, the Rocking Pony
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1946, 64 pp
Merrylegs is a rocking horse who has a very tough time at the hands of his spoiled owners.They whip him, cut off his tail, and break one of his glass eyes. Once they lose interest in him, he is sent to a toy repair shop, where he is made better than new. His next home is with Billy, who gives him the loving home he deserves. Then Merrylegs breaks both front legs. Having believed that Merrylegs can be mended, Billy comes home from town to find two wonderful surprises.
Pony Farm
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1948, 96 pp
A young reader. Bud and Lynn live next door to a Pony Farm, with ponies and Dalmatians. They ride, help train the ponies, and watch the foals, Half n Half, and The Pest grow up. When the ponies get loose, they help to rescue Half n Half, after he falls into an excavation hole.
Pony School
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1950, 96 pp
A young reader: the further adventures of Bud and Lynn. Their boastful cousin, Skinny, comes for a visit, and while there, he learns many things, one of which is good sportsmanship.
Silver Heels
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1951, 128 pp
The story of a part Welsh pony who was a natural jumper, and felt it was his duty to join every fox hunt. When the hounds gave tongue, there was no keeping Silver Heels in his pasture or stall. The Laird family takes advantage of his jumping ability, hunting and competing with the Pony Club.
Daffy Taffy
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1955, 32 pp
A young reader: the story of a Welsh pony colt who gets himself into some very silly situations.
About Paul Brown
BOOKS ABOUT PAUL BROWN
M L Biscotti & Robin Bledsoe: Paul Brown – Master of Equine Art
Derrydale Press, Lanham & New York, 2001
Horse fiction illustrated by Paul Brown
Peter B Kyne – They Also Serve
Cosmopolitan Book Corp, New York, 1927
David Grew – The Sorrel Stallion
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1932
Elizabeth Page – Wild Horses and Gold
Farrar & Rinehart Inc, New York, 1932
Amory Hare – Deep Country
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1933
Max Brand – The Thunderer
Derrydale Press, New York, 1933
Esther Greenacre Hall – College on Horseback
Harrison Smith & Robert Haas, New York, 1933
Rita C McGoldrick – The Corduroy Trail
Doran & Company Inc, New York, 1934
Gordon Grand – Colonel Weatherford’s Young Entry
The Derrydale Press, New York, 1935
Rowland Johns – Jock: the King’s Pony
E P Dutton & Company, New York, 1936
Lavinia R Davis – Hobby Horse Hill
Doubleday, Doran & Co Inc, New York, 1939
Wilhelmina Harper – Flying Hoofs: Stories of Horses
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1939
Lavinia R Davis – Buttonwood Island
Doubleday, Doran & Co Inc, New York, 1940
Wilhelmina Harper – Bret Harte’s Stories of the Old West
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1940
Ruth F Howard – Green Entry
William Morrow & Company, New York, 1940
Armine von Tempski – Pam’s Paradise Ranch
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1940
Ernest Horn, Rose Wickey, Madeline D Horn – We Live on a Farm
Ginn & Company, Boston, 1940 (?)
Alice Ross Colver – Adventures in the West
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1941
Steve Strang – Dude Rancher: A Story of Modern Ranching
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1941
Lavinia R Davis – Plow Penny Mystery
Doubleday, Doran & Co Inc, New York, 1942
Fairfax Downey – War Horse
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1942
Jane Selkirk – Blue Smoke Mystery
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1943
Fairfax Downey – Army Mule
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1945
Page Cooper [Ed] – Great Horse Stories
Doubleday & Co, New York, 1946
Fairfax Downey – Cavalry Mount
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1946
Armine von Tempski – Bright Spurs
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1946
Lavinia R Davis – Melody, Mutton Bone and Sam
Doubleday, Doran & Co Inc, New York, 1947
Genevieve Torrey Eames – A Horse to Remember
Julian Messner Inc, New York, 1947
Edward B Tracy – King of the Stallions
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1947
Reese Fell Alsop – George and His Horse Bill
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1948
Enid Bagnold – National Velvet
William Morrow & Co, New York, 1949
Fairfax Downey – Horses of Destiny
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1949
Genevieve Torrey Eames – Handy of the Triple S
Julian Messner Inc, New York, 1949
Elisa Bialk – Ride ‘Em, Peggy!
Houghton Mifflin Co, Boston, 1950
Eleanor Hoffman – The Tall Stallion
Dodd Mead & Company, New York, 1950
Iris Vinton – The Black Horse Company
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1950
Elisa Bialk – Wild Horse Island
Houghton Mifflin Co, Boston, 1951
Genevieve Torrey Eames – Ghost Town Cowboy
Julian Messner Inc, New York,1951
Jane S McIlvaine – Copper’s Chance
Macrae Smith Company, Philadelphia, 1951
Reese Fell Alsop – George and His Horse Go West
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1952
Alice Goudey – Danny Boy
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1952
Alice L O’Connell – Pamela and the Blue Mare
Little Brown & Company, Boston, 1952
Anna Sewell – Black Beauty
Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1952
Trude Burke – The Wild Stranger
Henry Holt & Co, New York, 1953
Genevieve Torrey Eames – The Good Luck Colt
Julian Messner Inc, New York,1953
Nancy Caffrey – Show Pony
E P Dutton & Co Inc, New York, 1954
Edward B Tracy – Great Horse of the Plains
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1954
Susanne McMasters – The Gallant Heart: The Story of a Race Horse
Doubleday, New York, 1954, 204 pp
Nancy Caffrey – Horse Haven
E P Dutton & Co Inc, New York, 1955
Alice L O’Connell – The Blue Mare in the Olympic Trials
Little Brown & Company, Boston, 1955
Nancy Caffrey – Hanover’s Wishing Star
E P Dutton & Co Inc, New York, 1956
Joan Houston – Jump-Shy
Thomas Y Crowell, New York, 1956
Barbara May – Buckle Horse
Henry Holt & Co, New York, 1956
Joan Houston – Horse Show Hurdles
Thomas Y Crowell, New York, 1957
Jim Kjelgaard – Wild Horse Roundup
(A collection of stories)
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1957
Lee Wyndham – The Lost Birthday Present
Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1957
OTHER NON HORSE TITLES
Don Apsden: Mike of Company D
Charles Scribner Sons, NY, 1939, 261 pp
Mike, a Terrier mix, joins the Army and becomes mascot of Company D during the First World War.
Betty Cavanna: Puppy Stakes
Westminster, Philadelphia, 1943, 262 pp
Clara Ingram Judson: The Green Ginger Jar
Houghton Mifflin Co, Boston, 1949, 210 pp
Geneviere Torrey Eames: Handy of the Triple S
Julian Messner, Inc, New York, 1949, 164 pp
Fairfax Downey: Jezebel The JeepDodd, Mead & Company , New York, 1944 150 pp
Jim Kjelgaard [Ed]: Hound Dogs and Others – A Collection of Stories by Members of Western Writers of AmericaDodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1958, 245 pp
