THE ILLUSTRATIONS OF JOSEPH & FRANK LEYENDECKER
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- čas přidán 29. 03. 2022
- Joseph and Frank Leyendecker were both included in an early instalment of the unsung heroes series. But I realise they are far too important in the development of 20th century illustration to be summed up so briefly. So this is a more detailed look at the work of both of these remarkably talented and influential figures, which I've attempted to create as a joint profile in order to compare and contrast their skills and output. It seems I've also made an unfortunate typographic error and had them both born in the 1970s. What can I say? I'm overworked and underpaid.
Wait, there’s *two* of them? I never knew. Thanks for another great episode 😀
Hello and yes Frank suffered in the shadow of his more famous brother. Life isn't fair.
Thank you, thank you, Mr. Beard! I've been waiting for your take on the well-deserving Leyendecker brothers. I have been fascinated by their illustrations for a while now. Many thanks again for the great images you showed.
Hello and I thank you once more for your appreciation. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
@@petebeard waarom ? Doe jij dit ,wanneer is de show afgelopen of het experiment om te kijken wanneer iemand doordraait
The best... JC is one of my absolute favourites... someone once said that Normal Rockwell may be the more popular artist for the masses because of the realism of the character paintings but JC Leyendecker is the one artists prefer more because of the stylized but realistic feeling of his characters.
What you say is true, but when I saw an exhibit of Rockwell's actual oil paintings of all those illustrations, I was blown away by how astonishing beautiful and painterly they were. Great artists, all of them.
Hello and I think it's one of life's great ironies that Rockwell ended up being at least in part responsible for JCL's later unpopularity, given that he credited him as his greatest inspiration.
Also ironic Norman Rockwell was credited for L.C. Leyendecker's iconic imagery, Santa Clause, New Year's kid, Thanksgiving turkey and others. But then, the Roaring Twenties Gilded Age balloon was popped by the Great Depression with Patriotism coming down the tube. Detachable high collars were out and brown shoes in.
@@vincentgoupil180 The iconic Santa Claus is actually created by Haddon Sundblom when he did the Coca-Cola ads.
But yes, it was kinda sad that Rockwell eclipsed Leyendecker in terms of popularity
@@RichardHannay
"Even though it was *Thomas Nast* who fleshed out the old fellow pipe and toys in hands, Reginald Birch who gave its suit its colors and Haddon Sunblom who often incorrectly gets the credit ... our modern concept and image of Santa Claus owes more to J.C. Leyendecker than any single artist."
" ... Cola-Cola company claimed for years was the originator of the modern Santa Claus came years later." Read Haddon Sunblom, 1931-1965.
From *Lines and Colors com* 'Leyendecker's Santa' by Charly Parker December 24, 2011
I should have been clearer referring to the Saturday Evening Post's use of Leyendecker's Santa and Rockwell tightening up that image with closer brushstrokes as he emulated his hero Leyendecker. Nothing wrong with that, just the public perception that all of that magazine's Santas were Rockwell's.
Lines and Colors is a good website.
Dear Mr Beard..
A superb presentation. The argument between “art” and commercial adverts could last all evening. And should we ever meet I will happily stand the first round.
I had this discussion with my art teacher in the 70’s where in my naivety I argued that advertising art held no merit. I now have the entirely opposite opinion, persuaded by your excellent series of unknown illustrators.
Emotions can be evoked by a striking image, and stories be imagined from “The Night Watch”, to Saturday Evening Post images.
Again thank you for your efforts. I have true admiration for your videos.
All the best.
Hello and although there's plenty of fine art I like (I make an exception for abstract expressionism and conceptual) it's always been illustration that rings my bell the most. Artists can do whatever they feel like doing but illustrators always have the challenge of interpreting something else, usually the written word. And I'm glad that you have changed your opinion about their value. In my view illustration (or commercial art as some sneeringy call it) is real art for real people.
Phil Sharp
I do not see why art can not devote itself to business as well as to history or beauty. In order words art may be useful as well as ornamental. In fact, I hold that art must be useful in order to live.
The art of the Greeks was a powerful factor because it served a utilitarian purpose. They decorated their articles of daily use, and art for them was a live issue. They didn't make it a practice to enclose their pictures in glass cases and hang them on a wall.
Art degenerates as soon as it serves no practical purpose.
L.C. Leyendecker
@@vincentgoupil180 Now that's a quote I wish I'd seen when making the video. Three cheers for Joe.
@@petebeard
Yea, you bet your sweet bibby it is 🤭
Should be bought up next time someone starts espousing about 'Art'.
then, another J.C.L. quote
"A good cover has a distinct silhouette"
don't have a clue what that means.
@@petebeard waarom ik leg mij het eens een keer uit ,waarom moest het zo stiekem,trouwens het glas is gebroken toch ? En ik ook, zo kun jij nu zwelgen in jouw eigenwaarde,het was nooit jouw bedoeling open kaart te spelen en ja heb geen moment van mijzelf gedacht dat ik moeders mooiste was maar karakter heb ik wel en zeker geen een of ander schoothondje die behoefte heeft aan een aai over haar bolletje zeker niet als het allemaal gefeinste liefdadigheid moet voorstellen en nog wat zeker geen golddigger die aan een zijdendraadje moet bungelen, en heb helemaal geen post of tel ontvangen, heb wel blijkbaar een hele hoop 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Always good to see the Leyendeckers get more recognition. In my humble opinion, they can't be praised enough, both for their technical skill and their influence on the history of illustration. Once again, I thank you for making these videos.
Hello again and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Talents like theirs make my job that bit easier.
This is the first time i have heard of these two , brother, artists. Their art is quite stunning. It was very sad to see that Frank died at the early age of 48 due to an overdose. This was such an enjoyable story and video .
Hello and I'm particularly glad to have introduced you to their work. Both remarkable talents.
I especially loved this video. You solved a mystery, as I always liked the vintage advertising sections of various sites that sell reproduction art and really liked the Arrow ads because the men were handsome & elegant. They represented a different time. I still remember how my dad dressed to go to work in Washington D.C., with his three-piece suit, polished wing-tipped shoes, overcoat, hat & briefcase. Thus, my enthusiasm for the Arrow shirt ads. But all this time I never knew who did the art for them!! I was also familiar with the pictures of generals. And now I know there were two brothers with similar styles & talents, which multiplies the interest. I watched this 2x and will be watching it again & again. I loved 100% of the artwork and want you to know what a difference your videos have made in my life.
Hello and I'm overwhelmed by the level of your appreciation. It really makes my day when viewers can be bothered to comment so positively about what I'm trying to do here.
On a short list of the greatest illustrators of the age of illustration. A moment in time that was brief but by its nature recorded and preserved, a gift to the future. Thanks
Hello again and thanks again
I love Leyendecker's hatching. Thank you!
Mr. Beard,
Your channel is an absolute inspiration for those of us who enjoy the purity of draftsmanship and associated techniques. There is no shortage of those whose "appreciation" for art has more to do with impressing others with their worldliness and sophistication, but yours is a celebration of actual skill.
Thank you.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the channel. And I'm particularly pleased you consider the videos to be an alternative to the usual pomposity and narcissism of art criticism.
Leyendecker (both of them) was something unique and even today I don't think there's has been an illustrator with a technique that even feels similar. Because of that it's sad that both didn't end in good terms with each other, between drugs and personal drama (specially the brothers opinions on Charles Beach) but their works still keep impressing even the less interested in illustration to this day.
Excellent video as always.
I watched it twice & saw that artwork was left to Charles Beach, who sold them for the most he could get, but I must have missed the brothers' opinions on Charles Beach. Mind sharing?
Hello, and thanks a lot for your comment and observation. I try to avoid the private lives of my subjects, but theirs seems to have been a particularly complex and far from healthy relationship. Apparently some years back somebody made a play about them.
Also, read when J.C.L. wanted to break off the affair Beach threatened to expose their relationship thereby ruining Joseph's career.
Ironic, a gay male blackmailing another gay male for being gay.
@@vincentgoupil180 Is it any wonder I steer away from the personal lives of my subjects? My opinion of our species is low enough as it is without the extra confirmation.
@@petebeard
Sorry for using the Svengali Defense.
That would make J.C. Leyendecker 'Trilby', a young Irish girl.
er, excuse me while I try to wrap my mind around that ...
I'm back
Gonna assume Beach wasn't lower-class or parvenu as in "poor boys don't marry rich girls" so if the rich eat their own what's a poor boy to do?
Cue-in and fade-out to Steely Dan's "Show Biz Kids"
'While the poor people sleepin
With the shade on the light
While the poor people sleepin'
All the stars come out at night'
Then, standing in my brown shoes, only a fool would say that.
I am a big fan of the modern Alex Ross, who illustrates comic book superheroes so very nicely. Learning of him led me to Andrew Loomis. There was always Norman Rockwell, but delving into his prolific career led me to JC Leyendecker and FX Leyendecker. You have done them justice with your video, as both men deserve to be more known to the general public and not just to those of us that love illustration. I recently found your page and have been enjoying your videos very much. So far, I have been viewing the ones of illustrators I like or movements I particularly enjoy, but I look forward to having my horizons broadened by your series as I go through your vast library. It is a great service your passion provides. Thank you for doing it.
Hello and I'm delighted that you have discovered the channel and are enjoying the content. I hope you do look into areas you are maybe unfamiliar with (and not just because it will increase my view numbers). Making these videos has led me into many aspects and exponents of illustration I was either unaware of or thought I didn't much care for.
I've been a huge fan of the Leyendeckers' art since discovering them in the 1980's. They were part of the Golden Age of Illustration. While I've been a full time "fine artist" for most of my long life, the only criticism I can say of this video is Mr. Beard's comment that instead of going into Art, they became Illustrators. Please, enough with this arrogance. Illustration IS Art, and it draws from the best of talents.
Hello and thanks for the comment. Illustration is an art form but definitely not fine art. Fine art exists for its own sake but illustration has a direct commercial function, and is created for mechanical reproduction. That's why they are different words with different dictionary definitions.
Thank you Pete! Yet another great family name I've never heard of. The pics at 10.13 and 10.19 are just stunnning! When the world is going crazy Mr. Beard keeps it sane. The Art is eternal.
Hello again. And I'm glad you enjoyed this video. Its worrying how we humans can be so creative and so destructive at the same time...
One thing I have been noticing with these big successful illustrators they go for the big mansions and staff. When actually they really never needed such as set up. Very much enjoyed that Pete, so professional. Thanks.
Hello and thanks for your comment and observation. It seems to be an entirely American phenomenon that illustrators go large when they have success. Maybe it's because they were paid spectacularly better than their European counterparts.
John Graham
See Wikipedia's J.C. Leyendecker entry on his mother Elizabeth and her brother Adam Ortseifen vice president of McAvoy Brewing Company. Appears the Leyendecker brothers came from wealth and political influence. They build their house in New Rochelle so think of the novel "The Great Gatsby" by Fitzgerald and the wealth it represented.
When I asked my illustrator friends who they consider to have been some of the best designer/illustrators, JC and Frank Leyendecker usually top the list. If you get a chance to see any of JC's sketches, they are really impressive, not just technically (for oil painting with what seems effortless brushwork) but as part of a process they mastered early on to help fullfill so many commisions. Their use of a clean line came from thin, tapered brushes known as 'riggers' or 'pin-stripping' sables, not as available today. Their secret medium, not really so secret as a number of illustrators were using it, passed down from their training in Paris, was no doubt 1/3 stand oil, thinned by 1/3 turpentine, and 1/3 damar varnish. I used this for many years early on in my own career (with siccative added, an oil drying agent) and found you can get similar effects to the linear strokes employed by both brothers. JC, having lived longer, pushed the style to the point of decoration, relying on the look to set himself apart, especially as more realistic illustrators took hold of the NY markets. Rockwell, for one, revered JC to the point where some of that beautiful linear brushwork showed up in his own early, and I feel, best free-hand work. (before moving toward a more photorealistic style). They did NOT use impasto, by the way, as Pete mentions in the video, but rather a heavier-bodied medium in the white areas that they wanted to dry faster, as this was long before we can now send high-res digital files off. These were paintings, commercial or not, and had to be shot, by camera, at each printer or publisher, often still wet and delivered by hand.
For other illustrators- if you're interested in seeing some of JC's originals, they have a room filled with a variety of illustrations at the Haggin Museum, near Sacremento, CA. Not his best, but certainly worth seeing. A few are surprisingly large, which, by comparison to Leyendecker's impressive studies, seem clunky, but still beautifully executed.
A quick story on JC's sketches - told to me by a few of the remaining art directors who worked at the Curtis Publising company, after they moved to Indianapolis -
One of Leyendecker's staff was told by JC to take his sketches and burn them. For whatever reason, Joesph chose not to have them around after his death. Instead, the man ( I don't think it was Beach) decided to keep the piles of sketches and eventually sold them to collectors who saw the value in such rare draftsmanship. They still circulate among illustration collectors and some pop up for sale now and then. The art directors also told me (I was bringing in an illustration for one of their magazines at the time) that when the company moved from Philadelphia, they gathered 2 large piles of 50's, 60's illustrations from illustrators of that period, and were told the employees could sift through them and take what they wanted. They said the two piles, over 5 feet stacks, were gone within a matter of minutes. When I was allowed to go into their archives with a friend of mine, (who, by the way, painted remarkably like Leyendecker and I learned a lot from over the years as he often bought and sold pieces with NY collectors) we found a number of originals from a few of my heros like Mark English, Fuchs, Heindel, and a number or other earlier gouache and oil illustrators from the Post reign. I learned so much from just seeing those and visiting the halls of the publishing company, where many Illustrators were displayed, Rockwell and Leyendecker among them.
Hello and many thanks for your recent comments and remarkable insights about the Leyendeckers and Dulac. The videos I make - despite what some viewers think - are intentionally superficial as I see my role as an enthusiast simply trying to get these great illustrators more attention from a world which in the main seems not to know or care all that much. If viewers wish to pursue any of the subjects in greater detail that's up to them. They are necessarily short, and manifestly not short enough for contemporary tastes, as viewing time is usually about half the video's length. So information of the depth and technical detail you suggest - not to mention my own relative ignorance on such matters - I leave to those who write books. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm being defensive, but I felt an explanation of my perception of the function of the channel was needed. Again, thanks so much for the favourable response, and I hope you will continue to add insights and substance for other illustrators.
I had a book once of "The Saturday Evening Post" with animals illustrations by these two Leyendecker brothers.
Your video was as usual very enjoyable.
Hello again and I didn't see any evidence of that work in my researches - I must have another look. Sounds too good to miss.
Thank you, Pete Beard, for an enchanting video - the longer I live the more I am sympathetic to an idealized view of the human experience - these brothers did a beautiful job of reflecting back to us, their viewers , the best-looking is face of our aspirations -
As always, I’m sorry we no longer live in a world of illustrative posters!
Thank you for this gem of a creation - art, music, voice, ideas - pleasure ~
Hello again and I'm bowled over by the level of your appreciation, and particularly my attempts to make videos that aren't just dull lectures.
Mr. Beard, your excellent videos have been a wider window into the world of illustration. I can't express enough how much I have enjoyed them. Even as a child I was a fan of Rackham, Pyle, and N.C. Wyeth. Now I am a fan of so many more! Thank you!
Hello and many thanks for your supportive comment. And you may be pleased to know that Wyeth as a solo subject is currently a work in progress. I didn't think I liked his work much but how wrong I was in my assessment.
@@petebeard Thank you for your kind response! I will eagerly await your NC Wyeth video! I have been to the Brandywine Museum and have seen many of NC's works, as well as other Wyeth's, and have toured the old Wyeth home and studio. Just an amazing experience. The huge sizes of some of his canvases, such as the famous one of pirates running across a golden background, that was a modestly sized endpaper for "Treasure Island", but was breathtaking in person. If you've not been to the Brandywine, you should go sometime. Oh! There is also a stairwell of murals of exploration he did in the old National Geographic Headquarters that I saw several years ago while in DC for a conference. Anyway, your videos remain a joy to me---I am a big fan. Thank you again for this effort.
There are apparently entire worlds of artists I have yet to learn about. Thank you so much.
Hello and thanks a lot. I'll jeep dragging them into the light if you keep watching,
Hi Pete, your video's are as polished and enthralling as the illustrations that you show us. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to entertain and educate us.
Hello again and that's high praise indeed. I'm very grateful for the level of enthusiastic support I get from viewers such as yourself.
Pete, thank you for this video. The brothers Leyendecker have always been illustrators that I have greatly admired, and your thoughtful, tender, and well researched video is a fitting tribute to their talent.
Hello and your appreciation is very welcome.
Hello (again?) I was sure I had responded to your comment but youtube disagrees, so in case I'm wrong thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video.
I love your videos, so absorbing and so inspirational for illustrators like me. Keep them coming 👍🏻🌟
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. There are many more (too many) in the pipeline.
Another excellent presentation. Particularly as these two often fall through the cracks of art history. Coming across issues of magazines with their covers or adverts is always a treat. They were born in the German Empire, not West Germany until much later.
Hello and thanks a lot fir the comment. In my defence I meant the Western regions of Germany, just as I might say in the North of France.
@@petebeard Copy that. I was worried that I was jumping the gun, but from your script it was hard to tell what was meant. Given the quality of the series I should not have assumed an error.
@@joswhite7923 Hello again and thanks for the vote of confidence. But as it happens you flatter me as there is an embarrassingly large mistake in the video anyway - I mis-typed their DOBs as 1974 and 6. Oops.
Mr. Beard, your videos are simply the best. Thank you so much for another wonderful presentation.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the channel content. It's good to know.
This was such a well done tribute to 2 of the greatest 20th century illustrators. My father, Charles Allen, regarded them as a major inspiration for his work. He always said re the commercial vs. fine art debate that there is just good art and bad art. The Leyendecker brothers remain a breathtaking example of hard work, skill, and insight. Thank you so much for the beautiful presentation of their work.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the video. Naturally enough my curiosity got the better of me and I looked up Charles Allen. Was your father Courtney Charles Allen? If so I've seen some remarkable work that's credited to him and I hope I can find more and feature him on the channel.
@@petebeard hi again, no-my dad is Charles Malcolm Allen, a 1950’s genre illustrator from San Francisco. I had written to you a few months ago about him. He was a top Bay Area artist working for years for the Patterson and Hall ad agency before working free lance after that. Many ads in Saturday evening post, billboards, newspaper b&w etc.
P.s. I thought you could feature the artists that worked for the top ‘50s east and west coast ad agencies back then. BBD&O in New York and P&H (Patterson&Hall) in San Francisco. Don’t know who the big players would have been from Chicago or the south etc.
@@margaretallen1082 Hi again and sorry about my confusion - put it down to old age and a failing memory. I remember now that I only found him as Charlie rather than Charles. I thought the dates for the other one didn't really add up. And I'll happily take your suggested topic on board but don't hold yout breath. I have dozens of others in development and I try (but don't always succeed) to maintain some sort of logical order to finishing and releasing them. Actually it's quite possible I've already featured a couple of the older ad artists in the unsung heroes series, but wouldnt have necessarily connected them to any particular ad agency.
@@petebeard you are doing such a great and broad tribute to the field of illustration so I do not pretend to alter the scope and development of your content. I just appreciate and am awed by your hard work and contagious enthusiasm. Can’t resist the urge to plant a seed from this Northern California perch. Looking forward to your future posts and thank you!
Thanks Pete, always so well put together and much appreciated
Hello again and thanks as ever for your positive response.
An amazing standard of work from these two brothers, thank you.
I was introduced to the Leyendeckers back in the 70's when a young artist named Robert Charles Howe won a cover contest for Life Magazine. Decades later I'm no less gob smacked by their virtuosity. Excellent documentary on their life & work.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. I particularly wanted to give Frank his due, as he seems to be much less well known than Joseph. I love them both in about equal measure.
Thank you Mr. Beard for a thorough, thoughtful look at these two brothers.
They were unknown to me, so once again, I have learned something.
A somewhat tragic history of two men who had enormous talent.
Hello and thanks a lot as ever. I try to avoid the personal lives of my subjects but in the case of these two it was too relevant to ignore. I can't abide sensationalism.
@@petebeard Indeed ...
Way too much sensationalism in today's world, which overshadows the underlying (or lack thereof) achievements.
That is an aspect of your presentations that I appreciate; homages to those that endure and have influenced whether we realize it or not. Thanks again.
Always been a fan of Joseph, hadn’t a clue there was a brother. Excellent content. Thank you.
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. Its true that poor old Frank just doesn't get the recogniton his work deserves, and it looks like he felt that way roo. A great pity - I actually prefer his technique to Joseph's.
Once again you have outdone yourself, Mr. Beard, thank you for such a wonderful video!
Hello and your appreciation is always welcome. Thanks a lot.
Another great video, Pete. Well done! What incredible talent the two brothers had. You rarely see that level of skill today.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comment. Two for the price of one..
Another wonderful video. Thanks for the closeups of the impasto!
Hello and thanks. I try to avoid 'arty' terms when I can but that one doesn't seem to have a decent alternative. Makes me sound like an art critic...
Absolute works of art.
Thank you for curating such a wonderful body of work.
Perfect choice of music
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. Its great to know the work is appreciated.
Thank you. I've never heard of the Leyendeckers but your video came across my feed and I'm glad I clicked on it.
Hello and I'm very pleased to have introduced to the wonders of their illustrations.
An excellent examination of the Leyendecker Brothers. Joseph's command of light kills me--he was a master of painting varied shades of ivory as if illuminated by footlights, really exquisite stuff! I read somewhere that his favorite model was a young Neil Hamilton...or as he's remembered today, Commissioner Gordon on the '60s BATMAN show.
Hello again and thanks. You're right about Mr. Hamilton (although whether he was preferred to Charles Beach is anyone's guess). There is wonderful photo of the young Hamilton wearing plus-fours and staring admiringy up at a Leyendecker painting over what I assume is a huge fireplace in the mansion. Loved those TV Batman episodes - Cesar Romero as theJoker and Frank Gorshin as the Riddler.
The content you produce is amazing especially for artists because with the exception of a few most are largely forgotten and or unknown at all outside of their own countries which is truly a shame. The slices of focus on particular one even though they are known somewhat or in this case a bit more than that are also enlightening too.
Thank you very much for sharing and thank you for what you do for aspiring artists such as myself to get inspiration from the past to elevate our work further towards our goal…
Rhanks a lot for your comment, and if the illustrators I feature on the channel are an inspiration to contemporary exponents I consider that a really positive outcome.
Thank you so much for sharing images and explaining about these great artists. I discovered your films about illustration a few weeks ago and I watch one of them almost everyday. In French we say it is " passionnant". Thank you for this beautiful job.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of the channel content. It's very pleasing to know that viewers such as yourself enjoy the content.
Those Illustrations! Eye-Candy. Loved it.
Hello and that's as good a description of their work I've read. It sums them up nicely.
Oh how we love idealisation! And digging up the almost forgotten “unsung” is so fascinating, bring ‘em on! (We know the oldies, the so familiar.) I’d love to know more about these old printing techniques, how the original art work was turned into a printable form.
Hello again and thanks for the comment. And in terms of print the Leyendeckers were among the earliest to be able to take advantage of 4 colour offset lithography, which is what we still use to this day. There are probably dozens of videos on youtube explaining the process in mind-numbing detail.
So very lovely and yet sad. Those magazines are some of the ones I found in my grandparents loft. Thank you very much for this presentation. 🦋
Very talented brothers..so unfortunate of Frank’s early death…always enjoy the Art Nouveau illustrations ..thanks
Hello and I firmly believe if Frank had not been so self-destructive and lived longer he would be as well known and respected as Joseph. Nobody ever said life was fair...
@@petebeard yes,I agree
Thank you very much for your kind comments. And yes I have been an illustrator for a long time in commercial art. I ‘m retired now and I’m not a young man anymore, I’m seventy-five years old.
I discovered speed painting on the enternet and that some young artists were begining to do Leyendecker master studies and posting them on You Tube.
I decided to do this thing as sort of a retirement hobby. I’m doing it because I knew I could do it using Photoshop’s tools and I have loved Leyendecker’s artwork all my life.
I’ve used Photoshop for my main painting medium during most of my career as an illustrator. For some 45 plus years. I began using Photoshop almost from when it first came out. Decades before anyone else was using it for painting and long before it and others like it, had become as popular as they are today. I knew for a long time it had the potential for that happening, and it finally, has. Anyway, I guess that’s what allows me to do this, as you say, very precisely.
But that’s really kind of the whole key to these very accurate paintings I’ve been doing. You see, the young artists are using Photoshop in a very much different way from the way I use it. They are painting in it in a similar way as they would do a normal wet painting. I use very different methods.
My way of working pretty much guaranties you will end up with almost an exact copy of what ever you’re painting, different brush strokes of course though. I could copy any artist’s paintings or other reference, photos too, using this method. Its not a trick really and its not really that easy to do either. Its not a better way to paint, its just very different.
This, and I suppose the 45 years experience helps a bit too. I know and use things they probably are not aware of and don’t know about, Photshop is a vast program.
I don’t know why you could’nt find the other paintings I’ve posted so far. There are about six of them. I’m painting others at this time too. I just began posting about a month ago. But if you are in You Tube, just type in, Leyendecker Depew, and they should come up.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Depew
Thanks for this beautifully produced video, Pete. Two of my favourites!
Hi again and thanks for the ongoing appreciation. These two made my life easy with such an abundance of great images.
@@petebeard extraordinary, both of them.
Why do the death dates say 1976 vs 1876? You’ve done a superb job. Since I was 12 I fell in love with the Leyendecker artwork. At 12 I bought two copies of a limited edition book in 1974 and have never regretted it.
Please let us allow Mr Beard a small oversight in another beautifully presented and well researched collection of images
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. Sorry about the typo error on the RIP pages. I've noted it in the description box but not everyone reads that. One of the more annoying aspects of youtube is that you can't just take out the offending frame. You have to take the video down, fix the problem and upload the whole thing as a new video, which then causes confusion to viewers who have already seen it.
Always a great moment, reviewing the history, the past of illustrators. A visual pleasure and always so well presented!
Thanks for your commitment.
Hello again and it's an equal pleasure to know that you - and others - continue to find watching the channel an agreeable experience.
Whenever I watch these videos, I find myself wondering about the art education of these illustrators, who seem to achieve greatness at such a young age. Was art education very different then to what it is today? Thank you again for making these beautiful presentations.
Hello and thanks for your appreciation. In answer to your speculation about art education it should be stressed that at that time many were self taught, or learned from correspondence courses. But those who did study did so at art schools. And nowadays almost all art courses have been handed over to universities and the actual hands-on drawing bit has been rather diminished. An illustrator needs a degree about as much as a fish needs a bicycle
Thank you. Another superb presentation. Looking forward, as always, to the next.
Hi again and thanks as usual for the appreciation. More on the way...
Love the new endcard logo!
Hello and thanks. I thought it was high time I grew up a bit.
A wonderful show. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wish that our artistry were still as stunning today. Alas....
Hello to you and thanks a lot for the appreciation.Not for nothing was it called the golden age of illustration.
PS. Great series. These are all so wonderful and well researched and produced. Thank you.
Hello and thanks for the comments. And yes I know about the typo - not the only one I've made either. The trouble is to fix such errors you have to take the whole video down, make the change and upload again.
I adore your videos. I've been commissioning multiple artists and illustrators for work on a novel, and the line between "commercial art" and "art" is, simply put, nonexistent. The delight of working with another person on the composition of something beautiful, and then seeing it come to fruition, is unbelievably satisfying. One great fear of mine is that artists like the few I've worked with will vanish into a sea of irrelevance; in the Internet age, it's harder than ever for artists to stand out, and I worry that they will never reach the achievement and recognition they're deserving of in this lifetime.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. My primary aim in creating the channel, and particularly the unsung heroes series, was to try to bring the much neglected work of great illustrators to a wider audience.It does seem that they get swept under the carpet of history while their fine art counterparts get all the attention.
Always love your videos. Can’t wait for the next one!
Hello and thanks for your appreciation.
Thanks for making this very well documented presentation on the key role that the Leyendecker brothers made in the history of American illustration that popularized the ever growing publishing industry with fanciful images of great beauty.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. I can't help but feel sorry for Frank - always in the shadow of his older brother, and still neglected even in death.
I'm a huge leyendecker fan!! & when I seen this vid I immediately clicked on on it!!..Luv the of one 19th century greatest illustrator! & his brother Frank was quite amazing aswell so sad to hear how tragically ided at such a young age😪 But still a great review non the less!!💯💥
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. I admire both brothers' work immensely and I've never really understood why Frank remains in Joseph's shadow. If you google Frank you actually get more by his brother.
@@petebeard Wow that's really interesting I didn't know that..But he was immensely talented aswell..perhaps living in the shadows of his brother was just too much idk..But I'm glad u reviewed his work in here aswell! Job well done!
Once again, most enjoyable. Thank you!
Hello again and your appreciation is always welcome.
File under for what its worth:
"Helen of Troy" was a 1923 musical comedy play by George S. Kaufman about the Arrow Collar manufactured by Cluett Peabody in Troy, New York state. The Arrow collar made famous by J.C. Leyendecker.
Older photograph of JCL on the blogspot Nolimitboy. J C Leyendecker
So inspirational! I haven't used pastels in years, this is giving me a desire to go and get some of my own! Great video!
Hello again and thanks for the comment. Your appreciation is always welcome.
A really wonderful job. Your work is really important...bringing back to life the art and artists that touched ordinary people. Thank you.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. It's very welcome.
Wow you keep filling in the gaps....thanks!
Hello again and that's good to know.
Fascinating as always Pete! I never knew Joseph Leyendecker had an artist brother!
Hello and thanks. It's true that Joseph still gets all the attention. If you google Frank Leyendecker you actually get as many images by his older brother. I actually prefer Frank's work as it's more naturalistic, but I know I'm in a minority.
Another gem! Thanks, Pete
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment.
Wonderful to see! Thank you so much!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation. It's very welcome.
I once again greatly enjoyed this! Very nicely presented!
Hello again and my thanks for your appreciation as usual.
A lovely tribute. Thank you.
Thanks as usual for your appreciation.
Oh the wonders that absence of tv can allow to happen! Beautiful and captivating art from the brothers.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this video, Mr Beard! This is a great video that also talks about Frank Leyendecker more who I always felt nobody really noticed, favouring to notice Joseph more.
I really didn't like how the only ever published Joseph Leyendecker art-book had text that bashed Norman Rockwell needlessly amongst other things so I am glad that this video is here to expose people to the Leyendecker brothers' art in a non-hostile way.
I was introduced to Joseph Leyendecker through my lecturer in animation school and I was amazed and connected with Joseph Leyendecker deeply as a gay artist myself, my lecturer never outright said he was gay but upon seeing his art I knew immediately and confirmed it upon researching further, I felt like I found a artist idol/hero that I could relate to, admire deeply and strive towards.
This video even has art that I have never seen before which fills my heart with joy deeply. Cheers!
Hello and many thanks for your favourable comment and insight about the Leyendeckers. In all my videos I attempt to not sensationalise or give opinions on the personal lives of my subjects. For me it's all about the work they created. But it is rather tragic that Frank couldn't really handle his brother's greater success and fame. Even now, when you google FXL you get more by JCL.
Thanks again Pete, fascinating as always. I forgot about that impasto and shall steal it.
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. I'm uncomfortable with those 'artistic' terms as they remind me of the drivel that art critics spout. But I couldn;t find a decent alternative.
Joseph is one of my favourites! thanks for the video!
Hello and that seems to be generally the case. I feel sorry for Frank, and if anything I actually prefer his work, but I know I'm in the minority.
A wonderful series. Every episode well researched, finely written and beautifully illustrated. Would love to see one on F.R. Gruger. ( I own several originals.)
Hello and thanks a lot for the appreciation. Gruger is currently waiting his turn in the ever lengthening queue for his appearance in the unsung heroes series. I can't remember hwer he is in the pecking order but I know he's there. Unfortunately, like quite a few others information and high resolution images aren't exactly abundant so I'd struggle to do a feature solely about him.
Thanks for another great post! Super music too...
Hello again and thanks a lot.
Wonderful - as always. Thank you.
Hello again and thanks a lot.
just come across this today, really wonderful
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it, and hope you'll find more on the channel that's of interest to you.
another excellent video, thank you for posting
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.
It is just brilliant what you do!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. It really makes a difference to know viewers get something out of the channel.
I'll say the same as most everyone else, thank you for doing this one! The Leyendecker Gallery at the Haggin Museum is high on my list of must-see places.
Hello and that;s fine with me - I'll take any amount of positive responses!
Superb story well told. Thanks
Hello and I'm grateful for your favourable comment.
Pete, truely if there is a more professional or better presenter making videos, I have never seen them. This was not only wonderfully informative but the artwork was beautifully presented. The output of these two brothers was astounding. I predict this will be your most watched video, surpassing Mucha. Thanks again for a lovely video experience.
Hi and thanks as usual. An overdue e-mail will arrive soon-ish.
Love the channel. Great video
Thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Thank you, as always.
Hello, and my gratitude as always. Your appreciation is always welcome.
Just on time! Thank you! :D
Hello and thanks. I try to keep to a schedule of one every 10 days or so. I'd like to do more but it already consumes way too much of my time, according to my wife.
@@petebeard Nah, I dont mean your schedule in this case :D It's just that Im working on a bachelors project about Leyendecker and quality videos like those are highly appreciated! :D
Fantastic video as always.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Talent like theirs makes my job much easier.
American Art Archives Leyendecker j.c studies
J.C. Leyendecker
The Studies
(1874-1951)
Sketches, studies and illustrations of his work sold at a garage sale.
Another fine video. Thank you!
Hello again and thanks for the comment.
They were certainly skilled at their craft & I wonder if friendly competition existed between them being brothers ... interesting *THX Pete*
Hello again and from the sound of things (although not that much is actually rcorded about their relationship) I'd be very surprised if their rivalry was ever friendly. Maybe they started out that way but despite Joseph's generosity to Frank he was ultimately consumed by envy. Apparently someone made a play about their rocky relationship years back which sank without trace.
Nike of Samothrace. I like these guys.
Love, love, love them.
Hello and it would be hard not to.
Very interesting, very well presented with a good selection of their work. Enjoyed watching this. However, I spotted two errors. Both of the illustrations which showed the date of birth and date of death were incorrect. It shows that both brothers were born in the 1970's. I haven't gone through all the comments to see if anyone else has noticed this. Hopefully it will not be too difficult to correct.
Hello and thanks. In fact the mistake was spotted early on and I've addressed it in the description box. And unfortunately to properly correct it would mean taking down the video, re-making it, and re-uploading it as a new video. Which makes it confusing for viewers who have already warched it. Sadly, thats how it works with youtube.
i just spotted it and was reading the comments too.
Love your channel....
Hello and thanks for the support.
Well done, Pete.
Hi again and thanks for the comment.
Ooooh Great ! I've been WAITING for this one !! Fantastic. Thanks!
Joseph's favorite model and partner Charles Beach destroyed ( on request of Joseph ?) lots of work and schetches of Joseph after his death when Charles was still living in that New York mansion.
And very good that you also mentioned his brother Frank, 'cause most of the time one ónly speaks of Joseph.
Hello and thanks fir the comment. Personally I find Frank the more appealing of the two as it;s less mannered (other than when copying Joseph) painting style. And I like the frivolity of his subjects, although it sounds like there wasn't much of that in his life.
@@petebeard Many years after I studied Fashion at the art academy of Maastricht in the eighties of the last century I discovered Josephs work. During my studies I also made fashion illustrations and even exhibited them. In that time I was a big fan of Antonio Lopez who did lots for Jean Paul Gaultier.
I liked the 'mannered' way of Joseph's work ; I knew nothing about his brother Frank
@@43painter Hello again and this is just to thank you for the name Antono Lopez. Fashion illustration, and particularly its modern exponents are a serious blind spot with me. Very nice work.
I have a print of Howard Chandler Christie’s work. It is a woman standing wearing what looks like a long navy blue robe. Her face is somber. She reminds me of my mother. I purchased the piece in the early 1980s when we stopped for gas at the Vermont- New Hampshire border in a very wooded area. The gas station also served as an antique store and home 🏡. It was hit or miss in the dark and dusty shop and then I saw my mothers face in the print. Seeing Howard Chandler Christie’s name, I remembered reading that he was a student of Charles Dana Gibson . The famous illustrator of the Gibson Girl. Do you think both subjects would make great commentary for your Art History program? I would love to hear it. I don’t know anything about their lives. Thank you for your cultural contributions to the Art 🖼 World. 🗺
Hello again and thanks for your comment and endearing narrative. Christy is featured in unsung heroes 36 and Gibson in 51. He also features prominently in The Art of Life video. If it helps there's a list of who's in which video in the description boxes for unsung 75 and 76.
where do you find your illustrations? do you just use google or..?
btw i love your videos.
Hello and thanks for the comment. I do have some books which come in handy but the vast majprity of the images come from the internet. I use both Google and DuckDuckGo because they bring up differing results, but frequently there are stores of images which don't feature on either and have to be dug out with other searches.
I watch your videos on a regular basis. Thanks for the hard work. Have you ever featured the illustrator Saul Tepper? I’m wondering if I missed his segment.
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. The good news is that Saul Tepper is waiting in line for his turn in the unsung heroes series. The bad news is he won't appear until instalment 90, but good things are worth waiting for, they say.
Lovely (also the glamour music)
Hello and thanks for the appreciation.
Brilliant video. Thanks
Hello and thanks for your appreciative comment.
Lovely presentation.
Hello and thanks a lot.
I have always been a fan of the old illustrations on antique magazines. Thank you for filling in the gap of me not being aware of who the artist was. Have you done a presentation on the Artist Maxfield Parrish? That would be very interesting and illuminating💡!
This has been most informative and enjoyable. Thank you very much for the wonderful presentation.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment and subscription. I'm pleased to say that there is such a video on the channel titled The Painted Perfection of Maxfield Parrish, and a search using those terms will take you to it. I hope it meets with your approval.
Hey Pete! I absolutely adored this video.
I'd just like to point out, there's a tiny little typo at 7:10 where it says Frank's lifespan went from 1976-1924 instead of 1876-1924. It doesn't detract AT ALL from the high quality of this video, and this deserves way more eyes on it.
Thank you very much for sharing this content.
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. Sorry about the typo on the RIP pages - I've actually made the same mistake for both of them. I've noted it in the description box but not everyone reads that. One of the more annoying aspects of youtube is that you can't just take out the offending frame. You have to take the whole video down, fix the problem and upload the whole thing as a new video, which then causes confusion to viewers who have already seen it. I'm very glad you enjoyed the video.
@@petebeard please, no need to apologize. It is no offense at all next to the trove of value this essay provides.
Thanks again for this, your channel is unparalleled.