GEORGE F. EARLE was born in New Bedford, Mass. in 1913, and demonstrated an early childhood talent for art. He attended Swain School and the Rhode Island School of Design where he won awards as a child. He went on to receive a B.F.A. at Syracuse University and an M.F.A. at Yale University.
In 1937, he was awarded the Tiffany Foundation Fellowship. In 1938, he studied under Diego Rivera, renowned for his American and Mexican mural painting, and spent a year painting in Mexico. Earle was subsequently apprenticed to Ezra Winter for the Library of Congress murals -- The Canterbury Tales and was later WPA 'easel painter' out of the New Haven, Conn. office. He won the Connecticut Painting Award at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Then followed four years of service with the 87th Mountain Infantry, 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale, Kiska, and Italy. He volunteered in 1941 as a Private and retired from the Army Ready Reserve as a Lt. Colonel in 1963.
At the close of the war, Earle was chosen by Colonel David M. Fowler, Regimental Commander of the 87th Mountain Infantry, to write and illustrate its unit history.
The twelve reproductions in this portfolio were selected from the sixty-five miniature landscapes, which he painted or sketched at occasional moments throughout the war. Earle has donated his complete collection to the 10th Mountain Division Resource Center at the Denver Public Library.
It is worth noting that the original 5"x7" miniature paintings were done with a single stub brush and tiny tubes of oil paint carried in Earle's 'mountain jacket'. Requisitioned gasoline served as a solvent needed in the oil-painting process. The prints depicting the Italian Campaign were originally pen and ink drawings and since have been 'colorized' by Earle.
Visually, the recall a few of the highlights of our military service. Those of Italy serve as reminders of the places of fallen comrades, who now lie row-on-row in the silent foothills, south of Florence.
Following active military, Earle's teaching career as an art professor included art, the history of art and design at Syracuse University and the State University of New York, School of Landscape, Architecture [at Syracuse University]. He has traveled extensively to fifty eight countries. In retirement he is painting with new seriousness and intensity. At the age of 78, he says: "The little war paintings were a pleasant escape of stolen time; now it is my daily delight to paint and think painting all the time."
ADDENDUM: The print images in this portfolio are reproduced fifty percent larger than the originals, and matted for standard 11"x14" frames. They were lithographed on acid-free paper and sun-fast inks to retain color and retard fading. Color adjustments in the reproduction process were made to allow for aging and yellowing of oils and paper on which the originals were painted.
This limited edition of 1,500 sets was printed for the 50th Anniversary of Camp Hale, 10th Mountain Division Reunion, at Vail, Colorado, Sept. 1992. The Selection Committee included Earl E. Clark [HQ -1-87th Mt. Inf.], Nancy and Arthur C. Delaney [L-87th Mt. Inf.], and Barbara Walton [10th Mt. Division, Resource Center, Denver Public Library]. Text/design/production, Loretta and John M. Engle [L-87th Mt. Inf.].