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Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

American, 1874-1951

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)

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Period: 1930s
Artist: Joseph Christian Leyendecker
First Long Suit, Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Signed by Artist Lower Right The Saturday Evening Post cover, September 18, 1937 One of the most prolific and sought-after artists of the Golden Age of Illustration, J.C. Leyendecker captivates the public with his striking, fashionable depictions of handsome men, glamorous women, and adorable children. Painted in 1937 First Long Suit not only encapsulates the high-fashion, glamorous fantasy world that Leyendecker strove to achieve over the course of his vastly successful career, it also poignantly captures a bittersweet moment that every parent experiences--watching our children grow up right before our eyes. Born in Montabaur, Germany, Leyendecker came to Chicago with his Catholic family at age eight. He apprenticed to a printer, J. Manz and Co., and then studied with John Vanderpoel at the Chicago Art Institute. In 1896, he won the Century magazine...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Study for 'King of the Beach' Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
This is a preparatory study for King of the Beach, the cover illustration for the September 3, 1932 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil

Preliminary Study for a Saturday Evening Post Cover "Tipping the Porter"
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Pencil on Paper Sight Size 22.00" x 17.50;" Framed 30.00" x 25.50" Signature: Unsigned Study for Cover of Saturday Evening Post Magazine, December 18, 1937 Exhibitio...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil, Pencil

Stoking the Furnace, Saturday Evening Post Cover, 1938
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Literature: The Saturday Evening Post, October 15, 1938, cover illustration. J. Cohn, Covers of The Saturday Evening Post, New Yo...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Living Mannequin, The Saturday Evening Post cover, March 5, 1932
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed lower right: JC Leyendecker Living Mannequin sold at the U.S. War Bond at the United States Treasury-Saturday E...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Policeman and School Children, SEP Cover, Oct. 3, 1931
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Signature: Signed Lower Right Cover Illustration: Saturday Evening Post, October 3, 1931
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Yard Work, Saturday Evening Post Cover, Nov. 6, 1937
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Signature: Signed Lower Right Cover Illustration: Saturday Evening Post, November 6, 1937
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Story Teller, The Saturday Evening Post Cover Study, December 1, 1934
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Unsigned Study for the Saturday Evening Post Cover, December 1, 1934
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Goin' South' Saturday Evening Post Cover Study
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Unsigned 'Goin' South' Saturday Evening Post Cover Study
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Study for 'Trimming the Pie'
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Signature: Unsigned Medium: Oil and Charcoal on Canvas This piece is a preparatory study for J.C. Leyendecker’s final painting, Trimming the Pie (19...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Charcoal, Oil

Doctor Looking into Childs Mouth, Study for SEP Cover, 1930
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Study for the November 22, 1930 cover illustration of The Saturday Evening Post.
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Study for 'Flowers for the President'
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Unsigned Sight Size 23.50" x 27.25", Framed 29.50" x 33.00" The present work is a study for Flowers for the President c...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Study for 'Christmas Peek, ' Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil and Pencil on Canvas Laid Down on Board Study for the December 23rd, 1939 issue The Saturday Evening Post.
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board, Pencil, Canvas

Study for Saturday Evening Post Cover, March 10, 1934
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Unsigned Sight Size 22.70" x 19.70", Framed 29.00" x 22.00" Study for Saturday Evening Post Cover, March 10, 1934 Leyendecker, Joseph Christian:One of the most successful commercial illustrators of his time, best known for his advertisements for the "Arrow Collar Man." He created 321 covers for the Saturday Evening Post.. American painter, illustrator, 1874-1951 Exhibitions: JC Leyendecker...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Christmas Peek, Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Sight Size 31.00" x 24.25;" Framed 37.00" x 30.00" Cover of the December 23rd, 1939 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Literatu...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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Previously Available Items
Study for Saturday Evening Post Cover
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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 ...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

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The Challenge to Liberty
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Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Right Featured in The Saturday Evening Post, September 8, 1934. 'The Challenge to Liberty' by Herbert Hoover...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

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Yard Work, Saturday Evening Post Cover Study
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas laid on Board Signature: Unsigned Saturday Evening Post cover study, November 6, 1937
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

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To the Vanquished, Saturday Evening Post Cover, March 10, 1934
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Date: 1934 Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 32.00" x 24.00" Signature: Signed Lower Left: JCLeyendecker
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Queen of the May, Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
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...
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1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

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Oil, Canvas

Study for 'George Washington at Valley Forge' Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Date: 1935 Medium: Oil and Pencil on Canvas Dimensions: 16.75" x 13.40" The present work is a study for the cover illustration of the February 23rd, 1935 issue of The ...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Pencil

Bringing in the Turkey, Thanksgiving Saturday Evening Post Cover
By Joseph Christian Leyendecker
Located in Fort Washington, PA
Medium: Oil on Canvas Signature: Signed Lower Center Bringing in the Turkey, Saturday Evening Post Cover, December 2, 1933 Exhibitions: The Society of Illustrators and Watson-Gup...
Category

1930s Joseph Christian Leyendecker Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Joseph Christian Leyendecker figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Joseph Christian Leyendecker figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of figurative paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of orange, green and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Joseph Christian Leyendecker in paint, oil paint, canvas and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the modern style. Not every interior allows for large Joseph Christian Leyendecker figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 1 inch across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Leslie Thrasher, Hunt Slonem, and Adam Mysock. Joseph Christian Leyendecker figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,900 and tops out at $855,000, while the average work can sell for $114,500.

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