The illustrations of Robert McGinnis (Robert McGinnis is alive.)

March 15, 2025 6:25 PM

Robert McGinnis (born February 3, 1926) is an American artist and illustrator. McGinnis is known for his illustrations of more than 1,200 paperback book covers, and over 40 movie posters, including Breakfast at Tiffany's (his first film poster assignment), Barbarella, and several James Bond and Matt Helm films*.

He also did covers for romance novels. His work on Johanna Lindsey's Tender is the Storm raised some temperatures, in both senses of the phrase.


Artfully Done: An Interview with Robert McGinnis

posted by Lemkin (6 comments total)

That style is instantly recognizable to anyone who's read a trashy pulp novel. From the examples linked above, I couldn't swear that I've ever read a book with a McGinnis cover, at least in that edition, but I've surely picked up more than one, and that's more than half the battle.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:44 PM on March 15 [5 favorites]

The movie posters from the 60’s and 70’s are all incredibly similar, both in style and type of movie. Really, very consistent for his entire career until his last one. I would never have guessed.
posted by ashbury at 7:17 PM on March 15 [6 favorites]

A great career; and yet he never learned how to completely clothe a woman.
posted by nickggully at 9:01 PM on March 15 [8 favorites]

I grew up admiring these book covers. As a closeted teen in the 60s, these, and especially the lurid covers of those men's pulp adventure which generally showed a handsome muscular man fighting off some river monster while his lady partner was being held prisoner by the natives. I would love to see the original art. How large were they and what medium of paint did he employ. Acrylic, oil, watercolor or possibly guache.
posted by Czjewel at 2:55 AM on March 16 [1 favorite]

For nickggully: found one! (via the owlcation article (NSFW, I guess)
posted by demi-octopus at 5:30 AM on March 16 [1 favorite]

Interesting that besides the lurid but captivating sexy lady and heroic man stuff, he also did art for Good Housekeeping, Ladies’ Home Journal, and the staple of my childhood at grandma’s house, Guideposts.
posted by caviar2d2 at 9:01 AM on March 16 [1 favorite]