Henry Clarence Pitz, “Back Stage”, Oil on Board, 1955, The Michael Thomas Collection, Morristown, New Jersey
Henry Clarence Pitz was an American illustrator, author, editor and teacher. He studied illustration at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art with Thornton Oakley as one of his instructors. After serving in the Army Medical Corps, he began a career of teaching and book illustration. His first notable book of illustrations was “Early American Costume” published by the Century Company.
In the 1930s Pitz joined the monthly magazine “American Artist” as an associate editor and writer. He was a regular contributor to the magazine for the rest of his life. In 1950 Pitz was elected to the National Academy of Design. In the 1960s Pitz was commissioned by Houghton, Mifflin and Company to write “The Brandywine Tradition”, which remained on the best seller list for ten weeks.