Leyendecker, J C Leyendecker, Joseph Christian Leyendecker, Leyendecker original artwork, Leyendecker original studies Leyendecker, J C Leyendecker, Joseph Christian Leyendecker, Leyendecker original artwork, Leyendecker original studies

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J C Leyendecker
The Studies
(1874 - 1951)

Saturday Evening Post (26 December 1925 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 001 (heavy paper approximately 11 x 14)

The studies here range from at least 1904 to 1940, though some of those that can't be associated with ads or covers may be from the artist's school work.

Like most artists, JCL used studies to work out problems and possibilities before the final oil paint was applied to canvas or board. JCL took this step seriously, often to the point of signing studies. He wasn't that particular about what type of paper or board he applied his studies to, however.

Leyendecker died at age 77 in 1951. His long-time companion, business manager, model (etc.), Charles Beach, put on a sale of Leyendecker's artwork, including numerous studies that the artist had wanted destroyed upon his death. While not "destroyed" in the traditional sense, Beach (perhaps due to a combination of grief and booze) hacked most of them into jigsaw puzzles of odd shapes and sizes. One might think this was to get as much money for them as possible, yet he let them go for as little as two bucks (about $16 in 21st century dollars). Beach put them out in a kind of yard sale and local fans and artists quickly picked the tables clean.

A couple of the sample boards butchered by Beach were bought and reassembled by a fellow illustrator and appear below.

Best,
Thomas Clement

For more information: J C Leyendecker.

For a profile of his equally talented brother: Frank Leyendecker.

Interwoven, 23 October (1926)
J C Leyendecker Study - 002 (board approximately 10.5 x 6.5)

Saturday Evening Post (19 April 1930 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 003 (board approximately 7.3 x 10)

Uses for other studies unknown, but the man in the middle does resemble Stravinsky.

Saturday Evening Post and Kuppenheimer studies
J C Leyendecker Study - 004

Studies from middle to right are for Kuppenheimer ads (dates unknown, but probably 1920s). This shows the Charles Beach slice-and-dice yard sale epilogue of what was once a single board of Leyendecker prelims covering several years.

Studies at left are for 25 Feb 1911 Saturday Evening Post (see below) - 004a

Study at bottom left, possibly for 26 Dec 1931 Post (see below) - 004b

Studies from center to right are for Kuppenheimers, 19?? (see below) - 004c

004a (board approximately 14.5 x 6.5)

004b (part of board 004a)

004c
Segment at left, three men, approximately 14.5 x 7.5
Man at desk, approximately 6.3 x 6.2
Man with Bowler, approximately 5 x 3.5
Man with snowball, approximately 6 x 8

Saturday Evening Post (3 December 1904 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 005 (board approximately 7 x 8)

This zaftig server has got to be one of JCL's most gorgeous girls.

Saturday Evening Post (30 June 1923 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 006 (board approximately 4 x 4.8)

Kellogg's Toasted Corn Flakes (1917)
J C Leyendecker Study - 007 (board approximately 6.5 x 8.4)

Saturday Evening Post (7 May 1927 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 008 (board approximately 4.6 x 5)

Historical studies (purposes and dates unknown)
J C Leyendecker Study - 009 (heavy paper on board approximately 5.2 x 7.2)

Saturday Evening Post (4 July 1931 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 010 (board approximately 5.7 x 5.5)

Saturday Evening Post (20 April 1935 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 011 (heavy paper on board approximately 3 x 7.2)

Pan American Coffee Producers (1940)
J C Leyendecker Study - 012 (heavy paper mounted on board approximately 7 x 10.9)

Saturday Evening Post and Arrow studies
J C Leyendecker Study - 013 (heavy paper mounted on board approximately 5.9 x 8.3)

Studies at top are for 24 Nov 1928 Saturday Evening Post (see below) - 013a
Study at bottom left, possibly for 29 June 1929 Post (see below) - 013b
Study at bottom right is for Arrow Collars and shirts, 1913 (see below) - 013c

013a

013b

013c

Saturday Evening Post (29 Nov 1924 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 014 (board approximately 4.6 x 5)

Kuppenheimer, "Trojan Weave" (1927)
J C Leyendecker Study - 015 (board approximately 12 x 15)
NOTE: This was for the left page of a two-page ad;
the study for the right page appears immediately below.

Kuppenheimer (1927)
J C Leyendecker Study - 016 (board approximately 9.6 x 15)

Study after Lawrence Alma-Tadema (A Silent Greeting, 1889, Tate Gallery, London)
J C Leyendecker Study - 017 (canvas on board approximately 4.2 x 4.6)
NOTE: came across the source of this by browsing our one and only Tadema calendar (pub. 1998) today, 21 Aug 2006. The question is, did JC see a photo of this (which would have been black and white, wherein he imagined his own colors), or did he see the painting in person? Hmmm.

Historical Study (purpose and date unknown)
J C Leyendecker Study - 018 (canvas on board approximately 4.3 x 7.6)

J C Leyendecker Studies - 019 (heavy paper on board approximately 7 x 10)

Study at top left is for 26 July 1930 Saturday Evening Post (see enlargement) - 019a
Study at bottom left is for 29 June 1929 Post (see enlargement) - 019b
Study at right is for 36 Nov 1938 Post (see enlargement) - 019c

019a

019b

019c

Saturday Evening Post (23 Dec 1933 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 020 (tissue mounted on heavy paper approximately 6.5 x 5.6)

NOTE: the girl's profile at left can be seen in the Post cover for Study - 010 above.

Saturday Evening Post (for 31 March 1934 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 021 (tissue mounted on heavy paper approximately 4.5 x 6.25)

J C Leyendecker Studies - 022
(heavy paper mounted on board approximately 23 x 14.5)

Study at top left is for 24 December 1938 Saturday Evening Post (see enlargement) - 022a
Study at bottom center is for 23 December 1933 Post (see enlargement) - 022b
Study at top center is for 27 December 1930 Post (see enlargement) - 022c
Study at right is for 4 June 1932 Post (see enlargement) - 022d
Study at bottom right is for 25 Dec 1926 Post (see enlargement) - 022e

NOTE: these studies were reassembled by the artist who bought them and mounted them on board.

022a

022b

022c

022d

022e

Saturday Evening Post (10 Dec 1921 issue)
J C Leyendecker Study - 023 (heavy paper on board approximately 9 x 12)

NOTE: interestingly, this study is very colorful, though the actual cover would only be duotone (shades of red and black). See also 006 above.