Leyendecker: Celebrating 150 Years

Few people today recognize the name Joseph Christian Leyendecker and yet he was arguably this nation’s most popular commercial artist during the first four decades of the 20th century. His paintings helped sell everything from men’s clothing to breakfast cereal and he helped define the modern magazine cover.

Haggin Museum houses the largest public collection of original artworks by the “Golden Age” illustrator. The museum’s core Leyendecker Gallery displays over 40 pieces of original work and personal ephemera. In honor of the 150th anniversary of his birth, the Haggin is displaying a collection of rarely seen original works and sketches by the artist. The selection includes J.C. and his brother Frank’s sketches, allowing viewers to get a closer look at the artists’ process.