"The Abolishing of Death, Cosmopolitan commission, 1919" Lot no. 3931
By Francis Xavier Leyendecker (American, 1877-1924)
1919
18.75" x 24.75", Framed 33.75" x 39.75"
Oil on Board
Signed Lower Right: F X Leyendecker
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RELATED LITERATURE:
B. King, "The Abolishing of Death," Cosmopolitan Magazine, New York, June-September, 1919, n.p.;
B. King, The Abolishing of Death, New York, 1919, n.p.
The present work was commissioned by Cosmopolitan Magazine for the serial "The Abolishing of Death" by Basil King. This specific Leyendecker illustration was not published within the magazine. However, the Cosmopolitan Book Corporation published the serial as a novel with illustrations by F. X. Leyendecker the same year, where the present work was possibly utilized.
Explore related art collections: 1910s / Magazine Stories / $20,000 - $50,000
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.