Charles Santore, illustrator of children's books, dies at 84

PHILADELPHIA — Charles Santore, an illustrator known for his richly detailed and whimsical interpretations of classic children's books has died, his daughter said Friday.

Christina Santore said her father died Sunday after a brief illness in Philadelphia, where he was born, raised and worked. He was 84.

He spent over three decades reimagining classic children's tales like L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz," Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," Grimm fairytales and Aesop's fables.

"Charlie Santore was an artistic treasure in the industry. He created worlds that were familiar but elevated them beyond the scope of our imagination," said Running Press Kids creative director Frances Soo Ping Chow, who worked with Santore for over a decade. "Each extensively researched and composed illustration was created with an eye to detail that was uniquely his. His lighting, reminiscent of Maxfield Parrish, enveloped colorful characters with lush atmospheres to create stunningly beautiful landscapes."

Santore grew up in a working-class Italian neighborhood in south Philadelphia, and described himself as a tough kid who was compensating for a stutter by throwing punches, smoking at age 11, and hanging around pool halls, according to an interview in Communication Arts magazine . He drew portraits of neighborhood characters for cash, and was encouraged by teachers to focus on art. He said his world opened up when he was accepted to Philadelphia's Museum School of Art, which is now The University of the Arts.

Santore started off as a magazine illustrator, had a successful freelance advertising career and frequently created portraits of celebrities for TV Guide in the 1970s and 1980s. His Redd Foxx TV Guide cover was recently added to the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. Other covers are in the collection of the Woodmere Art Museum. Santore's work appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, Esquire, Good Housekeeping and he even created a poster for the 1964 World's Fair.

After over 20 years doing magazine work, Running Press approached him to illustrate "The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit and Other Stories" in the 1980's. He was hooked.