McClelland Barclay
The Ultimate Sacrifice
By DAVID VERGUN, Production Editor
At age 51, McClelland Barclay should have been enjoying the life of the rich and famous. Before World War II, he was one of the best-known and highest-paid commercial artists in the United States. His illustrations appeared on the covers of The Ladies' Home Journal, Cosmopolitan, and The Saturday Evening Post. Among his most famous illustrations were "Body by Fisher" (for General Motors) and a painting of Joan Crawford. He also was one of the most respected names in sculpture and art deco jewelry design. Art collectors still seek out his work.
Instead of continuing in his lucrative civilian career after the United States went to war, Barclay--a naval reservist before the attack on Pearl Harbor-- volunteered for active duty and served in the Pacific as a combat artist.
Many of his illustrations graced the cover of Sea«Power magazine. He constantly tried to get into the thick of the action because he did not want to paint anything he did not know about from personal experience. His Navy travels took him aboard submarines, on dive-bombing missions in Navy aircraft, and on numerous surface combatants including three battleships and a cruiser. He also found time to paint a cover showing a Navy League volunteer shopping for items to donate to members of the armed forces.
Lt. Cdr. Barclay was killed in action in June 1943 when a Japanese submarine torpedoed his landing craft as it approached New Georgia Island. The magazine covers here are a small sample of the artistic genius of this true World War II hero.
|
