Product Description

One of the most prolific and successful artists of the Golden Age Illustration, J.C. Leyendecker captivated audiences throughout the first half of the twentieth century. With a signature style that possessed great warmth and imagination, Leyendecker is perhaps best known for his creation of the archetype of the fashionable male with his advertisements for Arrow Collar in the 1910s through the 1920s. These images sold to an eager public the idea of a glamorous lifestyle, the bedrock upon which modern advertising was built. He also was the creator instantly recognizable icons, such as Santa Claus (conceived as a portly, white-haired man clad in red velvet), that are to this day an integral part of the lexicon of society.An important influence on Norman Rockwell, Leyendecker was commissioned to paint more "Saturday Evening Post" covers than any other artist. Leyendecker lived for much of his adult life with Charles Beach, on whom the stylish men in his artwork was modelled, and while he kept his homosexuality hidden from public scrutiny, he nevertheless gathered a strong following in the gay-interest community. In the first book about the artist in more than twenty years, J.C. Leyendecker features his masterworks, rare paintings and other artwork, including the 322 covers he did for the "Post", as well as other magazines, including Harper's and Collier's. Accompained by a revealing text that delves into both his artistic evolution and personal life, J.C. Leyendecker restores his rightful position in the pantheon of great American illustrators.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59993 in Books
• Published on: 2008-11-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

About the Author
Laurence S. Cutler is the chairman and co-founder of The National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, Rhode Island. Judy Goffman Cutler owns The American Illustrators Gallery in New York. She is the co-founder of The National Museum of American Illustration in Newport, Rhode Island.

Customer Reviews

Great art with biased text
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2ADPAP2DSBEQG I found out that this book is rather controversial after reading all the comments left by other readers on Amazon, most are disgusted by the historical inaccuracies and personal agenda of the authors. Even I have to agree to a certain extent. At the end of the book, you'll get the impression that Norman Rockwell, Leyendecker's competition, is nothing but vile. One reader even pointed out a knock-off painting that was mistaken as an original Leyendecker work. These are only two examples.

In short, you should get this book for the art and not the text.

Leyendecker's paintings is easily identifiable by the exaggerated, quick brushstroke effect, or crosshatched strokes with oil paint. The reason why I bought the book was to check out how he draws the folds on those clothes. His command of drawing clothes and drapery is masterly. His more iconic pieces would be the Arrow Collar Man, New Year babies, and the covers for Saturday Evening Post.

Plenty of cover art he did for magazines are also included, although it's small at 9 per page. I thought the scans and reproduction of the paintings are pretty good. Yes, there might be yellow stains on those old copies of Saturday Evening Post but note that these paintings are from before the 1950s. The large illustrations are reproduced well, showing the texture of the medium. I like that his portraits are full of form and solidity, which I understand are drawn with models as reference.

The included biography is controversial but I didn't really buy this book for the text.

All said, it's still a very decent archive of Leyendecker's work.

The art is good enough to warrant a 5-star rating, regardless of what is written.

There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.

Leyendecker, simply the best.
This is a beatifully presented book in every way. Quality, style, content.
It is also the book that Leyendecker fans have been waiting many years for. The wait as been worth while. Packed with glorious colour plates on almost every page. almost certainly the most Comprehensive catalogue of Leyendecker work available in general print today. I will not go through the full contents of the book as the Amazon Product Description, covers everything perfectly.
I wiil just say that J.C.Leyendecker was a true original at the cutting edge of a new age of art and advertising. Many followed him and his style (including Norman Rockwell)but he was the original.
How do you set a new style ? Joe did. True genius.
Buy the book,you won't be Disappointed