Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Study of Kuppenheimer Men's Clothing Advertisement

The three wise men present their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn baby Jesus in this elegant, well-finished study by J.C. Leyendecker. Created in preparation for the Christmas cover of the December 1900 Success magazine, the piece is exemplary of Leyendecker’s distinct, hatched illustration style that conveys strength and sophistication with ease. The figure’s richly colored robes and reverent poses capture the character of the Bible story, while his unmistakable modern aesthetic lends a fresh perspective to these icons. Leyendecker was the preeminent illustrator of his era, and he is remembered today for his numerous magazine covers, where the artist was commissioned to illustrate the most high-profile editions of the publication and, most notably, the holiday issues. This particular piece, because it is a preliminary study, provides an intriguing look into his artistic process for these important covers. Leyendecker would experiment with color, pattern and positioning in his studies, evidenced here by the detail sketches of chain mail texture and praying hands on the perimeter of the composition. A favorite among collectors, such studies are exceptionally rare and truly delightful glimpses into Leyendecker’s work. Born in Germany in 1874, Leyendecker emerged as a major talent near the turn of the 20th century, becoming the most well-liked and sought-after American illustrator of his day. In 1898, Leyendecker produced the first of 48 covers for Collier’s magazine. The next year, he painted his first cover for Saturday Evening Post magazine, which was the beginning of a 44-year association with that esteemed publication. Over the course of 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...

Medium: Oil with Pencil on Canvas Signature: Signed Monogram Lower Right Study for Saturday Evening Post cover, Sep 3, 1932. Monogram signature "JCLeyendecker" l.r., identified in ...

Signed "JCLeyendecker" (lower right) Oil on canvas A robust golfer feels the strain of his next shot in this oil on canvas by the great American illustrator J.C. Leyendecker. Painted for the September 23, 1916, cover of Collier’s Magazine, The Reluctant Golfer encapsulates J.C. Leyendecker's signature style. The artist is renowned for his ability to capture the character of his models and convey a story through a single scene. His works such as this are as engaging today as they were over a century ago. The great American illustrators of the 20th century — Norman Rockwell, J.C. Leyendecker, John Philip Falter and others — often portrayed golf-themed covers for the most renowned publications of the day. The game of golf, which was introduced in the United States in the 1890s, had just begun to gain traction among middle-class Americans at the time of this painting's creation. This is not the only work on the theme that Leyendecker created; just four years later, he composed a charming scene of a caddy for the March 13, 1920, cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Even his iconic, debonair Arrow Collar Man got in on the fun, sporting golf clubs in a number of ads throughout the early 20th century. With his deliberate brushstrokes and distinctive cross-hatching technique, Leyendecker seldom overpainted his canvases, and subsequently, his works captivate the viewer as much with their omissions as the elements included. Here, Leyendecker's apprehensive golfer is accompanied only by his club and handkerchief, but these elements are all that the artist needs to set up his scene. With his uncanny talent for conveying narrative, Leyendecker successfully gives the viewer a humorous story in his distinctively uncluttered style. J. C. Leyendecker is credited for creating some of the most beloved and endearing images of his era that set the style and tone for entire generations of Americans. In 1898, Leyendecker produced the first of 48 covers for Collier’s magazine. The next year, he painted his first cover for Saturday Evening Post magazine, which was the beginning of a 44-year association with that esteemed publication. Over the course of 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...

Medium: Oil on Canvas Laid on Board Signature: Unsigned Sight Size 11.50" x 14.50;" Framed 18.00" x 21.00" Fourth of July (George Washington), The Saturday Evening Post preliminary ...

Medium: Oil on Board Signature: Unsigned Study for Collier's Magazine Cover, September 23, 1916.

Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, February 16 1918 Literature: illustrated in color on the coverJan Cohn, Covers of 'The Satur...

Medium: Oil on Canvas laid on Board Signature: Unsigned Saturday Evening Post cover study, November 6, 1937

Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right The Saturday Evening Post cover, September 24, 1921

Joseph Christian Leyendecker 1874-1951 American Looks Good for '48 Signed "JCL” (lower left) Oil on canvas With his iconic New Year's series of Saturday Evening Post covers, J.C. Leyendecker gave us what is perhaps the most enduring and global New Year’s symbol, that of the New Year’s Baby. It was in 1906 that Leyendecker painted his first image of a baby ringing in the New Year for the Post, in what would become an annual series of works spanning nearly 40 years. At times silly and others thought-provoking, Leyendecker's babies are, at their hearts, enduring symbols of new beginnings. Entitled Looks Good for '48, the present work was a special commission from the artist for the American Oil Company (Amoco). While his final Post cover was the 1943 New Year's Baby, he would go on to incorporate the cherubic child in his advertisements for Amoco throughout the 1940s. The present work is one such example, in which his famed New Year's Baby looks ahead with optimism to 1948. As the most popular and in vogue cover artist for the Saturday Evening Post of his age, Leyendecker was commissioned to illustrate the most important editions of the publication and, most notably, the holiday issues. His Easter, New Years', Thanksgiving and Christmas covers would become annual events for the Post’s millions of readers, who looked forward to his iconic characters such as the New Year's Baby. It would have been a highly recognizable motif by the time the present work was created. This image was subsequently used by Amoco for billboard advertising, and Amoco notepads and blotters featuring the scene were also produced and widely distributed. Such widely known works by this famed American Illustrator are highly prized. Born in Germany in 1874, Leyendecker emerged as a major talent near the turn of the twentieth century, becoming the most well-liked and sought after American Illustrator of his day. In 1898, Leyendecker produced the first of 48 covers for Collier’s magazine. The next year, he painted his first cover for Saturday Evening Post magazine, which was the beginning of a 44-year association with that esteemed publication. Over the course of his career, he would also transform the art of advertising for companies such as Amoco, B. Kuppenheimer & Co. and Interwoven Socks...

Date: 1934 Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 32.00" x 24.00" Signature: Signed Lower Left: JCLeyendecker

Date: 1937 Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 31.00" x 24.00", Framed 38.00" x 32.00" Signature: Signed Lower Right Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, May 15, 1937 The title “Queen...