Everything about J C Leyendecker totally explained
Joseph Christian Leyendecker (
23 March 1874–
25 July 1951) was a popular
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. Leyendecker was elected to the
Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in
1977.
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.
Further Information
Get more info on 'J C Leyendecker'.
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