Clarence Pearson Hornung (June 12, 1899 – January 2, 1997) was an American trademark and industrial graphic designer and illustrator.
Biography Clarence Pearson Hornung was born June 12, 1899,Who's Who in American Art 1959. The American Federation of Arts, Gilbert, Dorothy B., ed. New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1959; pp. 264–265 the son of Jules S. and Carrie Pfaelzer Hornung."Deaths"; The New York Times, December 4, 1941 He studied at City College of New York (B.S.), New York University and Cooper Union Art School in New York.
One of Hornung's well-known works is the Handbook of Designs and Devices first published in 1932. He was a designer for the American Type Founders, and created colophons for many contemporary publishers including the Book League of America, Farrar & Rinehart and Vanguard Press. He designed book bindings for clients including Encyclopædia Britannica, Harper's, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and H. Wolff.
Many famous trademarks and symbols used in the mid 20th century drew on Hornung's work, or were designed by him. During a Judge Advocate General patent division review of the then-new US Civil Defense Fallout Shelter sign, it was noted that the sign was identical to design 349 in Hornung's Handbook.
Hornung's limited edition lithographs of antique automobiles are highly desired by collectors.
In 1972 Abrams Books published Hornung's Treasury of American Design, an anthology of popular art in two volumes. New York Times art criti Hilton Kramer called it "a work of extraordinary beauty — Mr. Hornung also designed it — which is a virtual encyclopedia of American folk art … indispensable."Kramer, Hilton, "Designing America"; The New York Times, December 3, 1972
Clarence P. Hornung died January 2, 1997, at age 97."Paid Notice: Deaths, Hornung, Clarence P."; The New York Times, January 2, 1997
Selected bibliography 1930: Trade-Marks. New York: Caxton Press, 1930 1932: Handbook of Designs and Devices. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1932 1956: Handbook of Early Advertising Art, Mainly from American Sources. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1956 (two volumes) 1959: Wheels Across America. New York: A. S. Barnes & Co., 1959, 1968: A Sourcebook of Antiques and Jewelry Designs. New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1968 1968: Portrait Gallery of Early Automobiles. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1968 1972: Treasury of American Design and Antiques. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1972 (two volumes), 1974: Will Bradley: His Graphic Art. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1974. 1976: 200 Years of American Graphic Art (with Fridolf Johnson). New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1976 1978: The Way it Was in the U.S.A. New York: Abbeville Press, 1978 1991: Advertising Designs of Walter Dorwin Teague. New York: Art Direction Book Company, 1991.
References
External links All Things Ruffnerian - Designer Clarence P. Hornung — Lux Mentis, Lux Orbis (blog), March 26, 2010 Handbook of Designs and Devices — Designers Books (blog), March 22, 2010