J. C. Leyendecker

Joseph Christian Leyendecker (23 March 1874–25 July 1951) was an American illustrator. Of Dutch ancestry, born in Germany, he emigrated to the United States at the age of eight in 1882 from Montabaur, Germany, with his parents, Peter Leyendecker and Elizabeth née Oreseifen, his sister, Augusta, and two brothers, Francis Xavier "Frank" Leyendecker, and Adolph Leyendecker.

Leyendecker obtained a job at an engraving company, and attended the Chicago Art Institute under John H. Vanderpoel, and five years later attended, with his brother Frank, the "Académie Julian" in Paris.

On his return to America, he obtained several major advertising and illustrating commissions. His Arrow Collar Man, who was modeled on his lover, Charles Beach, became the masculine equivalent of the Gibson Girl, an ideal of beauty to be emulated by the mass of American men. Leyendecker also did advertising illustration for Hart, Schaffner & Marx.

Over forty years, Leyendecker illustrated covers for the enormously popular "Saturday Evening Post". In total, he produced over 300 illustrations for the magazine. The mainstream image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red fur-trimmed coat was popularized by Leyendecker, as was the image of the New Year Baby. Also notable is Leyendecker's illustration of the Three Kings, from the Christmas 1900, edition of the "Saturday Evening Post".

Leyendecker drew propaganda posters during World War I, encouraging people to buy war bonds. Leyendecker was the chief influence on, and a friend of, Norman Rockwell, who was a pallbearer at Leyendecker's funeral.

In 1914 the Leyendecker brothers built an estate in New Rochelle, New York, where they, their sister, and Charles Beach, lived. Leyendecker's relationship with Beach began in 1901 when the boy was fifteen years old, and lasted fifty years. [Winston Wilde, "Legacies of Love" p.154] Leyendecker was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1977.

One of the largest institutionally-owned collections of Leyendecker's original works is held by The Haggin Museum in Stockton, California. The museum mounted a traveling exhibition, "J.C. Leyendecker: America's "Other" Illustrator", in 2006.

Influence

The visual style of Leyendecker's art inspired the graphics in "The Dagger of Amon Ra", a game for the PC by Sierra On-Line. The museum in the game is named for Leyendecker, and the box art for the game is based on Leyendecker's cover for the 18 March 1905 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.

Leyendecker's drawing style was cited as a big influence on the character designs of "Team Fortress 2", a first person shooter for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 created by the Valve Corporation.

References

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External links

* [http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/leyendec.htm Leyendecker biography, with illustrations] from Bud Plant Illustrated Books
* [http://www.americanartarchives.com/leyendecker,jc.htm Leyendecker artwork can be viewed at American Art Archives web site] .