In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, illustrators were celebrities.
They were household names.
Of the illustrators with immense cultural influence,J.C.
Leyendeckerwas at the top.
His work for advertising and the covers ofColliers WeeklyandThe Saturday Evening Postmade him a household name.
Leyendeckers compelling characters, who were sophisticated and good-looking, also made him synonymous with style and elegance.
Portrait of J.C. Leyendecker, 1895 (Photo:Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)
Read on to learn more about Leyendecker and how his work continues to influence us today.
Who was J.C. Leyendecker?
He lived there as a young boy before immigrating to Chicago with his family in 1882.
![Saturday Evening Post v200 n22 [1927-11-26] cover](https://live.staticflickr.com/4628/26117878318_2cf4fd1464_o.jpg)
Leyendecker wasnt the only talented person in his family.
His younger brother Francis Xavier, aka Frank, was also an illustrator.
Together, they studied at the Academie Julian in Paris from 1895 to 1897.
After completing their studies, the brothers returned to Chicago where Leyendecker illustrated for many local clients.
In 1899, he received a career-changing commission: the cover ofThe Saturday Evening Post.
They were seen as early 20th-century sex symbols.
This is exemplified in the New Years Day covers that Leyendecker illustrated forThe Saturday Evening Post.
This special commission began in 1906 and the series went uninterrupted until 1943.
Although each image included a baby, the other elements of the composition conveyed the spirit of the time.
Kelloggs Foods
In 1912, Leyendecker was approached to create advertising illustrations for Kelloggs Corn Flakes.
Employing his cherub-like way of depicting children, he created 20 illustrations of Kelloggs Kids.
The rosy-cheeked youngsters are seen enjoying a bowl of cereal.
United States Department of War
Leyendeckers career began to decline after 1930.
Leyendeckers Legacy
In recent years, there has been a look into the artists sexuality.
Although there are no statements (in his own words), historians believe that Leyendecker was gay.
He never married and lived with a man named Charles Beach for most of his adult life.
What art movement was J.C. Leyendecker?
J.C. Leyendecker incorporated someArt Nouveauinfluences into his works.
Related Articles:
What is Botanical Illustration?
