817
“Where Is the Key, Sola?”
FES Title: “Where is the key, Sola?”
Alternate Titles:
Date: 09/06/1917
Size: 34″H x 25″W
Medium: oil_single-prime-canvas
Type: illustration
Published: Burroughs, Edgar Rice. The Princess of Mars. Chicago: A. C. McClurg and Co. 1917: 142.
caption: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.______. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1917: 142.
caption:
[same as above]

Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Princes of Mars and A Fighting Man of Mars. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1964: facing 76.
caption: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.

Edgar Rice Burroughs Quarterly, Fall 1982: cover.
no caption

Cochran, Russ. The Edgar Rice Burroughs Library of Illustration, Vol. 3. West Plains, MO: Russ Cochran, 1984: 101.
caption: page 142: “I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.”

Burroughs, Edgar Rice. A Princess of Mars. Utah: Quiet Vision Publishing, 2001.
caption: I sought out Dejah Thoris in the throng of departing chariots.

______. New York: The Modern Library, 2003: 89.
caption: [same as above]
Inscription: ll: F.E. Schoonover / ’17
Annotations: en verso: For / “The Princess of Mars” / Painted at Bushkill / Aug. 30 Sep – 5 / 1917 / “Where is the Key, Sola?” Sola? / Frank E. Schoonover / Single Prime Canvas / 25 x 34
Exhibitions:
Comments: received 4×5 transparency from owner 12/02 – returned to owner; received updated 4×5 7-21-07; form 2/3/03; NT 4×5 [3]; index; edit;
Commentary: Schoonover was enthralled by the story, A Princess of Mars. After receiving the commission to illustrate the book, he began creating Burroughs’ Martians and designing their clothing, weapons, and other accoutrements. He followed the text closely, writing to Edgar Rice Burroughs with lists of design ideas and questions on details. Burroughs gave him free reign with illustrative decisions. (archives)
In the composition of the painting, note the deliberate use of diagonal lines, keeping the viewer focused on John Carter and Dejah as they find themselves surrounded by the Martian giants.
In a letter written to John Schoonover on January 8, 1985 regarding his purchase of the painting, collector Robert R. Barratt notes: “I still can’t believe that I am going to have this beautiful painting in my collection. I can truthfully say that this painting will be the cornerstone of my ERB artist collection.” (correspondence)
Provenance: Sold by the artist to Mrs. Morris (November 17, 1944); Butterfield and Butterfield, New York (October 8, 1980); Schoonover Studios Ltd., Wilmington, Delaware; The Robert R. Barrrett Collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs Illustration [1985]