John Atherton (1900-1952) studied art on the West Coast and moved to New York in 1929, and immediately became a successful commercial artist. After 1936 he concentrated on paintings for exhibition at the Julian Levy Gallery and is often included in any group termed the American Surrealists. Nevertheless he was regualrly commissioned for commercial work, the litho poster for the 1939 World Fair in New York, posters for the War effort, and after 1942, covers for the Saturday Evening Post. He also worked for the National City Bank of New York(see above)

Above all he was obsessed with Fly Fishing.A portfolio of flies was painted for FORTUNE. It was while fishing in Canada that he was drowned.