Illustrators: F.X. Leyendecker (America, 1876-1924)


Figure 1.-- This is one of FX Leyendecker many magazine covers. It is for a 1911 issue of "McCllure's". Note the similarity to Norman Rockwell's work.

The destinctive illustration here was done by Frank Xavier Leyendecker. He was the younger brother of J.C. Leyendecker. They were two of the most prolific and well know illustrators of the 20th century. They worked just as lithograpic technology made possible georgious color illustrations. Joseph was born in Germany (1874) and Frank (1876). His parents brought Joseph and Frank to America as young boys (1882). From an early age they both domstrated a prodigious talent. Their parents did their best to encourag his talent, but as immigrants, there financial circumstances were limited. Frank is generally considered the "lesser" Leyendecker. Joseph had a longer and more notable career. This should not take away from the prodigeous talents of Frank. Many art historians believe that it was Frank that created the style in which both drew. Frank did colorful and creative illustrations for posters, cover art, book plates, advertising, and much more. He did covers for mahor magazines like Vanity Fair, Life, and Vogue. He also did advertisements for important companies like Durham Hosiery, Remington Guns, Palmolive, Howard Watches, and Willy's Motors. His brother specialized more in clothing.

Frank Xavier Leyendecker (1876-1924)

Frank Xavier Leyendecker was the younger brother of J.C. Leyendecker. They were two of the most prolific and well know illustrators of the 20th century. They worked just as lithograpic technology made possible georgious color illustrations. Joseph was born in Germany (1874) and Frank (1876). His parents brought Joseph and Frank to America as young boys (1882). From an early age they both domstrated a prodigious talent. Their parents did their best to encourag his talent, but as immigrants, there financial circumstances were limited. Frank is generally considered the "lesser" Leyendecker. Joseph had a longer and more notable career. This should not take away from the prodigeous talents of Frank. Many art historians believe that it was Frank that created the style in which both drew. Frank did colorful and creative illustrations for posters, cover art, book plates, advertising, and much more. He did covers for mahor magazines like Vanity Fair, Life, and Vogue. He also did advertisements for important companies like Durham Hosiery, Remington Guns, Palmolive, Howard Watches, and Willy's Motors. His brother specialized more in clothing.

McClure's Magazine

The destinctive illustration here was done for the cover of McClure's Magazine. by Frank Xavier Leyendecker. The American Magazine is closely related to McClure's Magazine, in fact a spin-off from McClure's. McClure's was perhaps the best known of the muckraking magazines. It was founded, however, as a literary magazine (1893). It featured some of tghe most prestigious authors of the day. At the turn of the 20th century, the magazine shifted from a literary format to a crusading journal addressing social and politucal issues of the day. It became perhaps the most acclaimed crusading or muckracking magazine of the progressive era. McClure's was adversely affected when many of their most prestigious writers left the magazine. The magazine never recovered, although it continued publishing until 1929 when it finally closed.

Clothing

This ad is interesting for the light it throws on boys' underwear in 1911. The boy (who seems to be about 11 years old) is clearly wearing a BVD style short-legged union suit (probably made of nainsook material) with a sleeveless underwaist on top for the support of trousers and long stockings. The hose supporters don't show in this illustration, which presumably indicates that they are being worn underneath the legs of his union suit. Union suits of the period were often manufactured in such a way as to allow the garters to be worn either on top of or beneath the legs of the union suit. The boy has removed his shirt so that mother can do some mending. She appears to be sewing on a button. The magazine is the September, 1911, issue, which is the month boys returned to school from their summer vacation. Note the school books and the strap. A reader writes, "Notice the boy is wearing long black stockings with an underwaist. The sleeveless under waist appears to have garters that clasp to the stockings but the attachment is not shown. The stockings reach past the bottom of the union suit or drawers (hard to tell which he is wearing) You can see the short sleeves of the shirt or union suit. There is also the flap of the drop seat. The mother is sewing a white sailor suit with what appears to be two buttons on the short trouser legs."







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Created: 9:06 PM 2/15/2008
Last updated: 7:22 PM 2/16/2008