""The Honeymoon," Proposed cover study for The Ladies' World Magazine" Lot no. 3301
By Francis Xavier Leyendecker (American, 1877-1924)
1908
7.50" x 5.50"
Mixed Media on Board with Collage
Initialed Lower Center
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Initially created as a submission piece for The Ladies’ World magazine when Frank was soliciting work, the final illustration was eventually realized as the cover for the 1909 Spring / Summer House of Kuppenheimer Style Book. This fashion booklet also featured interior imagery by Frank Leyendecker’s renowned brother, J.C. Leyendecker.
The image depicts a stylish and adventurous newlywed couple on a mountain holiday, taking a break from their hike to admire the scenic vista from a large boulder. The man assists his bride in steadying a pair of binoculars, while directing his gaze toward a distant, unseen view. While the man looks to his far right, the angle of the binoculars creates the impression that the woman is gazing directly back at the observer. This intriguing play on perspective challenges the traditional relationship between viewer and subject, inviting active participation by placing the audience in the position of being observed. This artistic concept, featuring women with opera or field glasses and exploring the act of looking, was a theme also explored by late 19th-century artists like Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt.
The Ladies’ World, for which this piece was originally proposed as a cover, was an affordable, mass-market monthly periodical, launched in 1886 by S. H. Moore & Co in New York. Geared towards women’s general interests, it underwent a printing upgrade from cheap newsprint to glossy full-color covers after being acquired by McClure Publications in 1912, before ceasing publication in June 1918.
The image’s eventual use as a cover for the 1909 Spring / Summer House of Kuppenheimer Style Book gave Leyendecker the opportunity to place emphasis on the intricate details of the stylish couple’s clothing, showcasing his skill in rendering fashion and textiles.
Explore related art collections: 1900s / Magazine Covers / Romance / $5,000 - $20,000 / Women as Subjects / Studies / Fashion / Newly Researched
See all original artwork by Francis Xavier Leyendecker
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in Germany, Francis Xavier Leyendecker was very competent, but was always overshadowed by his older brother. Francis's work was more sensitive, and highly detailed, but it never matched the assurance and dramatic poster quality of Joseph's. Francis also painted covers for leading publications such as The Saturday Evening Post, Vogue, and notably, Collier's. He later designed stained-glass windows.
The two brothers never married. They worked together in a large studio estate in New Rochelle. The fascinating story of their personal lives is related in Norman Rockwell's book My Adventures of an Illustrator.