1939
Joseph Christian "J.C." Leyendecker was born in Germany in 1874. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1882. His eldest brother, Adolph, became a prominent stained glass artist, and Joe, as he was called, had an early artistic calling.
After studying at the Chicago Art Institute under John H. Vanderpoel, J.C. Leyendecker enrolled at the Académie Julien in 1896, where he studied for a year with his younger brother Frank in the Beaux-Arts tradition. During his time there, he was exposed to and influenced by the works of Art Nouveau painters and printmakers Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jules Chéret and Alphonse Mucha, with whom he formed a strong friendship. The next year, he staged his first one-man exhibition at the Salon du Champ-de-Mars and made the auspicious acquaintance of Paul Gauguin.
In 1898, Leyendecker produced the first of 48 covers for Collier’s magazine. The next year, he painted his first cover for The Saturday Evening Post magazine, which was the beginning of a 44-year association with that esteemed publication. Throughout his career, he would also paint covers for Life magazine, illustrations for a library of books, and transform advertising for such companies as B. Kuppenheimer & Co. and Interwoven Socks. His work for Arrow Shirt is the most well-known and beloved.
Using his lover and manager, Charles Beach, as a model, Leyendecker created the ultimate image of modern American masculinity. His work for Kuppenheimer, also known as the House of Kuppenheimer, is just as iconic. Founded in 1876, the company became the manufacturer of uniforms for the United States Army during World War I. Thanks to Leyendecker's advertising, the firm became synonymous with the ultimate in male taste and desirability.
Unfortunately, near the end of his career, as Leyendecker’s associations with Collier’s and The Saturday Evening Post came to an end, his work fell into obscurity. When he died in 1951, his great friend Norman Rockwell, who commemorated their relationship in his painting Waiting for the Art Editor, served as one of his pallbearers.
Find original J.C. Leyendecker prints and paintings on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by M.S. Rau)
Thanksgiving, The Saturday Evening Post cover, November 12, 1910
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Laid on Panel Signature: Signed Lower Right The Saturday Evening Post cover, November 12, 1910
Canvas, Oil, Panel
Easter, Saturday Evening Post Magazine Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Sight Size 24.75" x 18.63", Framed 34.00" x 18.50" Saturday Evening Post Cover, March 23, 1918 Exhib...
Canvas, Oil
Tipping The Porter, Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Sight Size 30.00" x 24.12", Framed 39.00" x 34.00" Saturday Evening Post Cover, December 18, 1937 Exhibitions: It's a Man's Worl...
Canvas, Oil
Sore Throat, Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Signed by Artist Lower Right Saturday Evening Post Cover, November 22, 1930
Oil
Thanksgiving, The American Weekly Cover, Preliminary Study
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Study for the cover of The American Weekly (Thanksgiving edition), published November 24, 1946 For the final published composition, Leyendecker painted the artist as a young man. ...
Canvas, Oil, Board
Sore Throat, Cover for The Saturday Evening Post
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Original cover for The Saturday Evening Post, published November 22, 1930 A sweet scene of a child ill in bed and getting checked by a doctor as his concerned mother and dog look on...
Canvas, Oil
U. S. Census Saturday Evening Post original 1940 vintage poster
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Spokane, WA
Original poster: THE SAURDAY EVENING POST. Artist: Noman Rockwell. Size: 21.75" x 28". Archival linen backed in very fine condition. The painting for this original poster ...
Offset
Original Freedom from Want 1943 vintage poster. Thanksgiving
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Spokane, WA
Original vintage poster: FREEDOM FROM WANT, Ours to fight for ... Original. Artist: Normal Rockwell. Archival linen backed in fine condition, ready to frame. Note: All US Go...
Offset
Original USA BONDS Weapons for Liberty WW1 Third Liberty Loan vintage poster
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Spokane, WA
Original vintage World War I poster. U.S.A. bonds: Third Liberty Loan campaign: Boy Scouts of America. Depicted: Boy Scout handing a sword inscribed "Be prepared" to a stylized warri...
Lithograph
Fireside Christmas
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Fireside Christmas" c. 1985 is an original color etching by American artist Scott Fitzgerald. It is hand signed, titled and numbered 158/250 in pencil by the artist. Published and printed by the artist. The image (plate mark) size is 11.5 x 17.65 inches, sheet size is 19.25 x 25.25 inches. it is in excellent condition, has never been framed. About the artist: Scott Fitzgerald received his Master’s Degree in Arts from California State University Fullerton, and went on to teach drawing and printmaking for 2 years at the university. During his college years, he focused his study in contemporary art and photography, creating mixed media works often with social comments. It was not until the sophomore year, he discovered the traditional art of etching in his printmaking class. Immediately, he embraced the complex and difficult technical process of making prints from etching on copper plates. Scott Fitzgerald established himself as a prominent printmaker in the next few years. With a strong interest in history, he accepted a commission to produce a series of etching depicting 15 Orange County historical landmarks. Besides producing very intricate prints in various sizes, he has engaged in many special projects. He worked with renowned English printer John Randle to produce a group of etchings...
Etching
The Turkish Yataghan, Illustration of Baby, Collier's Cover
By Charles Twelvetrees
Located in Miami, FL
Baby caring a horse shoe on his shoulders reminiscent of the famous J. C. Leyendecker Baby covers for the Saturday Evening Post. This is a cover illustration/ painting for Collie...
Watercolor, Gouache
Medicine (Sepia) Lithograph Print, American Impressionist, Signed AP Edition
By Norman Rockwell
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. From Tom Sawyer Portfolio. Sheet size 25.5 x 19.5 inches. Image size approx 17 x 13 inches. Frame size approx 28 x 24 inches. AP edition. ...
Paper, Lithograph
