John Cecil Clay (1875–1930) was an American illustrator and painter celebrated for his genre works, caricatures, and distinctive graphic style. Born in Ronceverte, West Virginia, to an established Southern family, Clay pursued formal artistic training in New York City. He studied under the prominent painter Henry Siddons Mowbray at the Art Students League of New York, developing a clean, graphic aesthetic that was highly suited for commercial publication.
Throughout his career, Clay became particularly well-known for his recurring depictions of attractive young women, a popular motif of the era's illustration. His work was widely published in several of the most prominent American periodicals of the early twentieth century, including Life, Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly, The Century Magazine, the Saturday Evening Post, and Good Housekeeping.
In addition to his prolific magazine contributions, Clay was an active member of the professional arts community. He belonged to the Society of Illustrators and achieved significant recognition when his work was represented at the St. Louis Exposition (World's Fair) in 1904.