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J.C. Leyendecker in the
Golden Age of Illustration
February 24 - April 20, 2008
The Huntsville Museum
of Art is proud to present the exhibition J.C. Leyendecker in the Golden
Age of Illustration, organized by The Haggin Museum, 
Stockton, California, on view February 24 through April
20, 2008. (right: J.C. Leyendecker, Kellogg's Kid-Boy Scout,
c. 1912-1917, oil on canvas)
Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951) may not be as
well known as his fellow American illustrator Norman Rockwell, but during
his long career his work was some of the most popular of its day. Born at
Montabour in Southwest Germany, Leyendecker came to America with his parents
in 1882 and settled in Chicago.
He soon became an art student and it was along the Parisian
streets, ablaze with the vibrant poster art of Jules Cherét (1836-1933),
Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939), and Henri de Toulouse Lautrec (1864-1901), that
Leyendecker came to the realization that a talented artist could gain both
critical acclaim and monetary rewards as a commercial illustrator.
J. C. Leyendecker did his first cover artwork for Collier's
magazine in 1898. Over the next ten years he would produce 47 more.
Just before the turn-of-the-century, he received a commission
to produce an image for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. This
rather undistinguished image that illustrated a story on the Spanish American
War for the Post's May 20 issue was the first of 322 covers he would
produce for the magazine between 1899 and 1943-more than any other artist,
including Norman Rockwell.
Leyendecker's popularity at the Post was due to
his ability to convey the essence of everyday life in America through artwork
that reflected his unique sense of drama, romanticism, and humor. Another
key to his commercial success was his distinctive style, which combined
bright colors with bold, heavy brushwork.
Another important commission for Leyendecker was from Kellogg's,
the breakfast food manufacturer. As part of a major advertising campaign,
he created a series of 20 "Kellogg's Kids" to promote Kellogg's
Corn Flakes. These images of babies, small children, and teenagers are as
winsome and winning today as when they were created over 90 years ago.
This exhibition of paintings, sketches, studies, and associated
ephemera provides new generations with the opportunity to experience the
artwork that mainstream America took to its heart during the first half
of the 20th century.
On March 6, 2008 at 7 pm there will be a docent-led tour
for J.C. Leyendecker in the Golden Age of Illustration.
The exhibition is part of an eight city national tour over
a two and a half year period containing approximately fifty paintings and
sketches, original magazine covers and advertisements from the collection
of the Haggin Museum. The tour was developed and managed by Smith Kramer
Fine Art Services, an exhibition tour development company in Kansas City,
Missouri.
About Smith Kramer Fine Art Services
Founded in 1981 by David Smith, Smith Kramer Fine Art Services
has enjoyed twenty-five years of growth in serving the art community. In
partnership with the institutions and collectors, Smith Kramer Fine Art
Services budgets, markets, crates, insures, transports, and handles all
services of the exhibition from concept to completion. -- edited
text, courtesy Smith Kramer Fine Art Services. Also see
The David Smith Story: Sharing the Arts
(11/14/97).
(above: J.C. Leyendecker, Kuppenheimer Suits Advertisement,
Man & Porter, 1921, oil on canvas)
(above: J.C. Leyendecker, The Saturday Evening Post,
Barking up the Wrong Turkey, 1926, magazine)
(above: J.C. Leyendecker, Claire Chennault of the WWII
Flying Tigers, 1944, oil on canvas)
Object labels from the exhibition
- Frank Xavier Leyendecker, Portrait of J.C.'s Brother
- 1896
- oil on canvas
-
- This portrait of the artist's brother was done when the
two were students at the Académie Julian in Paris. In the Spring
of 1897, the portrait was shown at the Académie Julian and was the
cover image for the exhibition catalog.
-
-
- People's Bible History
- Cover
- 1893
- watercolor
-
- These three preliminary study images were part of Leyendecker's
work for an illustrated edition of the Bible that was published by The
Henry O. Shepard Co. in 1894. The final, published version differed slightly
from this preliminary work.
-
-
- People's Bible History
- Return of the Prodigal Son
- 1893
- ink wash
-
-
- People's Bible History
- Rebekah at the Well
- 1893
- ink wash
-
-
- Admiral Stark
- 1944
- oil on canvas
-
- One of a number of American military leaders done by
Leyendecker for the Timkin Roller Bearing Company's War Bond campaign in
1944. These images appeared in magazine advertisements and posters that
were produced in two sizes. This painting depicts Admiral Harold R. Stark,
United States Navy, who oversaw naval operations during the invasion of
Normandy.
-
-
- Claire Chennault of the WWII Flying Tigers
- 1944
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Elizabeth and David Rea
-
- One of a number of American military leaders done by
Leyendecker for the Timkin Roller Bearing Company's War Bond campaign in
1944, this painting depicts Major General Claire L. Chennault, commander
of the famous Flying Tigers fighter squadron in China during WWII.
-
-
- Enlist Today, US Marines, Stockton
- 1918
- ink on paper
-
- Enlistment posters such as this were produced by the
US Government with all but the last line printed. This was done by a job
printer in the city where the recruitment office was located, in this case
Stockton, California. This is "Version #1" of the popular WWI
poster. The alternate "Version #2" had a smaller central image
and was surrounded by 16 B & W photo reproductions of Marine life.
The poster was also reproduced in 1918 with another title, Soldiers
of the Sea.
-
-
- Advertisement for Chicago Evening Post
- 1898
- ink on paper
-
- Like many daily newspapers, the Chicago Evening Post
published a magazine supplement, such as the issue advertised in this poster
by Leyendecker.
-
-
- The Intelligent Baby
- 1899
- ink on paper
-
- One of a number of posters Leyendecker did for various
Chicago-area literary magazines. This poster was designed for Up To
Date magazine. Leyendecker produced four posters for this magazine
in 1899. The 25¢ charge for a copy of the Leyendecker illustration
would be the equivalent of about $5.50 today.
-
-
- Weapons for Liberty
- 1917
- ink on paper
-
- Leyendecker's most dramatic WWI poster image, this illustration
was also featured as the cover of the March 2, 1918 issue of The
Saturday Evening Post.
-
-
- Arrow Collar Study
- 1923
- oil on canvas
-
- Leyendecker was hired in 1905 by Cluett, Peabody &
Co.'s advertising manager, Charles Connoly, to create a new image for the
firm's products. He created his famous "Arrow Collar" men for
the company over the next 25 years. This work is a preliminary study for
Arrow's 'Par' Style Collar -- The Artistocrat of Arrow Collars. The finished
painting differs slightly from the preliminary version. There are four
known preliminary oil sketches that preceded the final painting. The final
painting was utilized for marketing needs that included magazine advertisements
and merchandising placards for stores.
-
-
- Kuppenheimer Suits Advertisement, Man & Porter
- 1921
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by The Men's Wearhouse
-
- Although this illustration was utilized in many national
publications, it was always published with a limited palette of only two
colors. This is another image painted for Kuppenheimer & Co., which
was eventually purchased by The Men's Wearhouse in 1997.
-
-
- Kuppenheimer Suits Advertisement
- 1918
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by The Men's Wearhouse
-
- This painting was one of many Leyendecker did for the
Chicago-based firm of Kuppenheimer & Co., a leading manufacturer of
men's clothing from 1876 to 1982.
-
-
- Man in Long Underwear
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Lynne Temme and Barbara Bahler
-
- Chicago's Cooper Underwear Company, precursor of Jockey
International, used Leyendecker's work in its 1911 national advertising
campaign to promote its new 'Klosed Krotch' one-piece long underwear.
-
-
- Advertisement for Interwoven Socks
- circa 1922-1923
- oil on canvas
-
- This commanding imagery was utilized in magazine advertising
and marketing posters for The Interwoven Stocking Company of New Brunswick,
New Jersey.
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy About 8-10
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Haggin Social Club
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy about 5-6
- 1916
- oil on canvas
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy About
5-7
- 1917
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by John and Helen Talbot
-
- The cereal and strawberries in this boy's bowl have been
cut and pasted onto this painting from another work. The advertisements
utilizing this image appeared with and without strawberries in the cereal.
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Girl About 12
- 1917
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
- The Haggin collection contains 14 of the 20 paintings
that Leyendecker did for Kellogg's between 1912 and 1918.
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Teen Boy
- 1916
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Girl About 8-10
- 1916
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy About 2
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Teenage Girl
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy About 5-6
- 1915
- oil on canvas
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Girl About 6-7
- 1917
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Baby in Highchair
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Boy Scout
- 1917
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Philip and Anne Berolzheimer
-
- Although Norman Rockwell is more closely associated with
the Boy Scouts, Leyendecker featured young Scouts on posters, magazine
covers and in advertising. The word "WAXTITE" refers to the wax
paper inner packaging that, according to Kellogg's "keeps the fresh,
good flavor in-and all other flavors out."
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Girl About 4-5
- 1916
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored in memory of Susan E. Moore by
Philip and Anne Berolzheimer
-
-
- Kellogg's Kid, Baby Wearing Bib
- 1915
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Junior Women's Group
-
- Collier's Cover, Admiral Togo
- September 3, 1904
- oil on canvas
-
- Admiral Heihachiro Togo was Commander in Chief of the
Imperial Japanese Navy during the Russo-Japanese War and defeated the Russian
forces at Port Arthur in 1904.
-
-
- The Popular Magazine Cover, Out or Safe?
- May 1910
- oil on canvas
-
- Leyendecker posed this perennial baseball question on
several magazine cover illustrations, including this one for The Popular
Magazine.
-
-
- Collier's Cover, Policeman
and Racecar
- January 8, 1916
- oil on canvas
-
- Leyendecker produced 44 covers for Collier's over
a twenty-year period beginning in 1898. The magazine ceased publication
in 1957.
-
-
- The Saturday Evening Post,
Airships Circling Baby New Year
- January 2, 1932
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Mrs. Robert N. McKee
-
- This representation of the New Year as a cherub/baby
is an icon of American imagery and was a Leyendecker creation. He first
employed it for The Saturday Evening Post's 1908 New Year's
issue and repeated it, in a host of variations, over the next 36 years.
- © Curtis Publishing, Inc.
-
- The American Weekly, New
Year's Baby 1950
- January 1, 1950
- oil on canvas
- Conservation sponsored by Robert and Marie Whittington
-
- This New Year's Baby was done for William Randolph Hearst's
Sunday magazine, The American Weekly. He was working on another
New Year's cover for the same publication when he suffered his fatal heart
attack in 1951.
-
-
- The Saturday Evening Post,
St. Valentine, 1924
- February 16, 1924
- oil on canvas
-
- Prior to 1926, the cover art for The Saturday
Evening Post was reproduced using only two inks, red and black, and
Leyendecker's covers from this period lack the variegated palette of later
works for the magazine.
-
-
- The Saturday Evening Post,
Older Woman Chasing Cupid on Leap Year Day
- February 29, 1908
- oil on canvas
-
- Playing upon the old tradition of unmarried women being
allowed to propose marriage on Leap Year, Leyendecker featured a "bachelorette"
chasing a terrified cupid in this February 29 cover illustration.
-
-
- The Saturday Evening Post,
Queen of Spring
- May 23, 1931
- oil on canvas
- © Curtis Publishing, Inc.
-
-