Paul Bransom (1885-1979) began his career as a talented wildlife artist at a very young age. He was born in Washington, D.C., in 1885 and left school at the age of 13 for an apprenticeship drawing detailed mechanical devices for patents.

Bransom later traveled to New York City and took a job as a comic strip artist, but spent most of his time at the Bronx Zoo, sketching all the animals. The zookeeper noticed Bransom and allowed him to set up his own private studio in the lion house.

Filled with confidence, drawings tucked under his arms, he met with the editor of The Saturday Evening Post who immediately purchased four covers and several other sketches. His first Post cover appeared on January 5, 1907.

Paul Bransom’s extremely detailed and lively images attracted many admirers and earned him the Benjamin West Clinedinst Memorial Medal which is awarded for the achievement of exceptional artistic merit. Bransom’s love for animals can be seen in each and every one of his paintings. Bransom died in 1979.