J. Duncan Gleason (August 3, 1881 - March 9, 1959) was an American engraver, illustrator, and painter who became the "leader of [the] ultraconservative school" in Los Angeles, California. Life Gleason was born on August 3, 1881, in Watsonville, California. He was trained at the University of Southern California, the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art, the Chicago Art Institute, the Art Students League of New York, and the Academy of San Carlos. Gleason began his career as an engraver for the Sunset Engraving Company in 1899. He was also an illustrator for the Ladies Home Journal and Cosmopolitan. He later worked in the art departments of Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Warner Brothers. Many of his paintings depicted ships. According to The Los Angeles Times, he was the "leader of [the] ultraconservative school" in Los Angeles. Gleason married Dorothy Ferguson, and they had two daughters. He died on March 9, 1959, in Glendale, California, at age 77, and he was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park. His work can be seen at the Laguna Art Museum. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics. References 1881 births 1959 deaths People from Watsonville, California University of Southern California alumni School of the Art Institute of Chicago alumni Art Students League of New York alumni Artists from Los Angeles Academy of San Carlos alumni American male painters Painters from California Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American painters Olympic competitors in art competitions 20th-century American male artists