Bust of Neysa McMein, 1920
Painted Plaster
Neysa McMein (1888-1949) was a leading illustrator known for creating commercial personas for such products as Pamolive Soap, Lucky Strike and Betty Crocker. On the advice of a numerologist, Margery Edna McMein changed her name to Neysa and went on to a successful career designing covers for numerous magazines including McClures, Woman’s Home Companion and McCall’s, for whom she designed covers exclusively between 1923-37. McMein and Farnham worked in neighboring studios at 57 West 57th Street. The bust is dated 1920 and signed “Sally James”, a shortening of her full signature, which she used randomly between 1917-1920. The bust is in a private collection today.
