John S. Coppin 1904 - 1986

Self-portrait c. 1943 by John S. Coppin

Bio taken from old eBay listing.

John S Coppin was the son of Thomas and Maude L (Levett) Coppin of Mitchell, Ontario. He was born 13 Sept 1904, in Mitchell, Ontario and died aged 81 at 1750 Ben Franklin Drive, Sarasota, he died on June 26th 1986 at a local nursing home. He came to Sarasota ca 1969 from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. His GrandFather also John Stevens Coppin was born in 1837 in Cardinham, near Bodmin, Cornwall, England, and came to Canada ca 1865 with his wife Charlotte (Pascoe) and settled in Mitchell, Ontario where they spent the rest of their lives.

Untitled by John S. Coppin

Michigan Motor News, September 1934 cover by John S. Coppin

For 40 years John painted the covers of AAA Motor News, the forerunner of Michigan Living magazine. Noted personalities who posed for him include actor Sir Alec Guiness and eccentric artist Sadakichi Hartmann. The Hartmann portrait is displayed in the National Portrait Gallery in Washington. He considered his murals titled Man and Transportation in the Detroit Public Library main building among his finest work.

Murals by John S. Coppin in Detroit Public Library

He was educated at Stratford Collegiate Institute, John Wicker School Of Art in Detroit and Study Tours of Europe. He was a member of American Federation of Artists and a fellow of International Institute of Arts and Letters. He was listed in Marquis' "Who's Who in the Midwest", International "Who's Who in Art and Antiques" and "Who's Who in American Art." He was awarded the Scarab Club Gold Medal in Detroit for three years, the Institute of Arts Popular Prize for four years and the Carl F. Clarke Awardin 1953, the Hartwig Prize in 1953 and other prizes.

Uncle Sam gets down to business by John S. Coppin

He was commissioned to paint portraits of General Motors President James M. Roche, Gen. William S. Knudsen, Henry Ford, Alvin Macauly, Mrs. Alfred Glancy, Symphony Conductor Paul Paray and Sir Alec Guinness. He painted four official portraits of Mitchigan governors plus many college presidents, judges, actors, doctors, industrialists, etc. He has perminant collections at Detroit Institute of Arts; Michigan State Capitol at Lansing; University of Michigan; Wittenberg Universityin Ohio; Hope College; Detroit CollegoLaw; University of Detroit; National Historical Museum in Danneborg Castle in Frederiksberg, Denmark; Detroit Public Library; Detroit Historical Museum; Detroit Edison Co.; Blue Cross Building in Michigan; Michigan Bar Association; Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C,; Shakespeare Theater in Ontario; and "Maestro" at Van Wexel Hall in Sarasota.

More covers by him here:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/john-s-coppin-our-own-rockwell.1156395/