James Allen St. John

James Allen St. John (1872 Chicago – 1957 Chicago) was an American author, artist and illustrator. He is especially remembered for his illustrations for the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs, though he illustrated works of many types. He taught at the Chicago Art Institute and the American Academy of Art. He is considered by many to be 'The Godfather of Modern Fantasy Art'. His most famous disciples were Roy Krenkel and Frank Frazetta, the latter of whom has also been styled as the grandmaster of the Genre.

St. John's artistic career began in 1898. He studied at the Art Students League of New York. This was followed by his first commercial relationship with the New York Herald. During this period he spent time in Paris from 1906 to 1908 at the Académie Julian, then moved to Chicago around 1912 and would eventually live at Tree Studios art colony until his death. While in Chicago he became close friends with artist Louis Grell. Here he began his work with the publisher A.C. McClurg & Co., although he had already produced his best-known work for this publisher back in 1905, “The Face in the Pool,” which he had both written and illustrated.

This is part 5 of a 5-part series on the works of James Allen St. John. For earlier works, see parts 1 - 4 also.

1936 Weird Tales December issue
artwork by J. Allen St. John

1936 Weird Tales December issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1936 Weird Tales October issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1937 In Shining Armour
artwork by J. Allen St. John

1937 In Shining Armour
printed illustration by J. Allen St. John

1940 Fantastic Adventures October issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories April issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories August issue
Yellow Men of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
artwork by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories August issue
Yellow Men of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories January issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories January issue
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories June issue
Black Pirates of Barsoom by Edgar Rice Burroughs
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories June issue
Black Pirates of Barsoom by Edgar Rice Burroughs
"I rose steadily from my couch"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories June issue
Black Pirates of Barsoom by Edgar Rice Burroughs
"I drew my sword as the Black Prince charged down on me"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories March issue
The City of Mummies by Edgar Rice Burroughs
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories May issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Amazing Stories October issue
Invisible Men of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures July issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures July issue
"These warriors fought with spears - more deadly than I had imagined."
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures July issue
"Bound with ropes, I was led through the strange forest of growing Brokol babies"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures March issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures November issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1941 Fantastic Adventures November issue
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1942 Amazing Stories December issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1942 Fantastic Adventures July issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1942 Fantastic Adventures March issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1942 Fantastic Adventures March issue
"Although they operated on land, these giant ships fought like an Earth navy"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1942 Fantastic Adventures March issue
"Carson drove the trident deep into the fellow's breast"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1942 Fantastic Adventures October issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1943 Amazing Stories February issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1943 Amazing Stories January issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1944 Amazing Stories March issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1944 Fantastic Adventures April issue
cover by J. Allen St. John

1944 Fantastic Adventures April issue
"From behind the shelter of the great neck Jongor launched his arrows"
illustration by J. Allen St. John

1944 Fantastic Adventures April issue
"Dora was two tons of grief. But the real sufferer was Funk, who must find Oscar, her mate"
illustration by J. Allen St. John