Walter Biggs

{{Infobox person

| name = Walter J. Biggs

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| birth_date = June 4, 1886

| birth_place = Montgomery County, Virginia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1968|2|11|1886|6|4}}

| death_place = Roanoke, Virginia

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| other_names =

| occupation = Illustrator and painter

| spouse = Mildred Armstrong (1923 - ca. 1937, divorce)

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Walter Joseph Biggs (June 4, 1886 – February 11, 1968) was an American illustrator and fine art painter.{{cite web|last1=Gunter|first1=Donald W.|title=Walter J. Biggs (1886–1968)|url=http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Biggs_Walter_J_1886-1968|publisher=Encyclopedia Virginia|access-date=24 August 2015}}

Biography

File:A Skin You Love to Touch - Walter Biggs.jpg

Biggs was born in Elliston, Virginia, in 1886. He studied in New York City at the New York School of Art. He was a student of Robert Henri, and some of his fellow students included Edward Hopper and Rockwell Kent.Great American Illustrators by Walt Reed, {{ISBN|0-517-31783-4}} He later taught at the Art Students League and the New York School of Art.{{cite web|url=http://www.roanoke.edu/inside/a-z_index/olin_hall_galleries/permanent_collection/walter_biggs|title=Walter Biggs|publisher=Roanoke College Olin Galleries}} He lived in the suburban community of New Rochelle which was a well known artist colony and home to many of the top commercial illustrators of the day such as Frank and J. C. Leyendecker and Norman Rockwell.[http://www.newrochellearts.org/content.php?nID=2&cID=4 New Rochelle - Arts City]

Also in residence were Al Parker, Mead Schaeffer and Dean Cornwell, who, along with Tom Lovell, N. C. Wyeth and Harold von Schmidt would become leaders in the field."Illustrators, Volume 33"; Author=Society of Illustrators (New York, N.Y.); Publisher=Hastings House., 1991

Biggs became known in the 1920s and 1930s for his illustrations for popular magazines such as the Ladies' Home Journal.

In 1944, Biggs was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member, and became a full member in 1947. In 1963 he was inducted into the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.{{cite web|url=http://www.societyillustrators.org/Awards-and-Competitions/Hall-of-Fame/Past-Inductees/1963--Walter-Biggs.aspx |title=1963 - Walter Biggs Hall of Fame Inductee |publisher=Society of Illustrators}}

Walter Biggs died February 11, 1968. An historical marker was erected at the intersection of Roanoke Boulevard and College Street, in Salem, Virginia, across from Biggs’ family home.{{Cite web|url=http://www.roanoke.com/arts_and_entertainment/columns_and_blogs/columns/arts_and_extras/arts-extras-salem-artist-walter-biggs-commemorated-with-marker/article_31d9da6c-fd75-11e3-a9b3-001a4bcf6878.html|title=Arts & Extras: Salem artist Walter Biggs commemorated with marker|date=June 27, 2014|website=The Roanoke Times|access-date=September 26, 2016}}