"Two Men in Deck Chairs, Saturday Evening Post Cover" Lot no. 3168
By Leslie Thrasher (American- 1889-1936)
1937
26.00" x 32.00", Framed 40.00" x 36.00"
Oil on Canvas
Signed Lower Right
REQUEST PRICE
PURCHASE REQUEST
Click any of the images above for additional views.
Cover of The Saturday Evening Post, January 16, 1937
---------
Every once in awhile you discover a long lost treasure. That is what happened to us a few months ago when we found this Charles Leslie Thrasher Saturday Cover painting for The Saturday Evening Post. Mr. Thrasher made a living painting impressive works for Liberty Magazine Co. in the 1920s- 30s.
During these times and even prior to them, he illustrated for many America’s businesses. Some of his greatest works graced the Covers of the Saturday Evening Post. He created twelve covers in the teens, 6 in the twenties, and his two best in 1936 and 1937.
This glimpse into his background brings us back to our discovery. We’re very proud to add to our collection the last painting that Mr. Thrasher created for The Saturday Evening Post that earned its place on the January 16, 1937 cover. Its three times the size of the average painting of his Liberty Covers, and is an impressive 36” x 31” oil on canvas, signed lower right. This piece has been beautifully restored and rests in a museum quality frame.
In addition to being remarkably rendered, it is warm hearted and humorous. The two gentleman, who probably don’t know each other, are practically sharing each other’s armrest, and one of them is not very happy. Obviously seasick, judging by his somewhat green complexion, he is holding onto his deck chair with his gloved left hand. His partially peeled orange is tightly ensconced in his bare right hand, and he is sweating profusely. He has given up on the cruise brochure, and it appears his deck mate’s pipe smoke is not adding to his comfort.
We hope you find this engagingly brilliant piece of art as delightful as we do.
Explore related art collections: Men / $100,000 & Above / Saturday Evening Post Covers
See all original artwork by Leslie Thrasher
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Charles Leslie Thrasher was made famous by signing on for a long-term contract to paint every single weeks cover for Liberty Magazine. It was a back-breaking commitment to work at such a pace and an even greater challenge to come up with enough original cover ideas. The latter problem was partially solved by settling on a continuing story line, which followed a couple's courtship, marriage and children. It was a popular series, later made into a movie called "For the Love of Lil." His marriage provided the ingredients for it, and he served as his own model for the hero. As the presentation was humorous and light, the artwork tended to be lightweight, below the standards of his earlier cover work for The Saturday Evening Post, Collier's, and his advertising illustrations Cream of Wheat, Fisk Tires and Spaulding.
Thrasher's career had an auspicious beginning. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and won a years scholarship to attend the Ecole de Grande Chaumiere in Paris. After his return in 1910, he studied briefly with Howard Pyle, and developed a close friendship with fellow-student Douglas Duer. They both served oversees during World War I, where they were assigned to camouflage with the Fortieth Engineers.
He resumed his illustration career after returning to the U.S, working for various magazines such as Redbook, Collier's, Popular Magazine, and Everybody's, prior to the Liberty contract.
Thrasher's career came to an early tragic end when his summer home burned and he developed pneumonia from smoke inhalation.