"“The Radiant Christ” for Delineator Magazine"   Lot no. 4315

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Illustration for the poem “The Radiant Christ” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox for Delineator Magazine, published December 1907.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox's powerful three-part poem advocates for a shift in the artistic and spiritual portrayal of Christianity. Wilcox argues that the traditional emphasis on Christ's suffering and crucifixion has dominated the faith's symbolism for too long. Her poem champions a new vision, calling for art that depicts "the living presence of the radiant Christ" and highlights his core teachings of love and kindness. The poem culminates with a compelling plea to "Release the suffering savior from the cross and give the waiting world its radiant god!"

J.C. Leyendecker's accompanying illustration masterfully embodies this concept of a "radiant Christ." In the painting, Christ is depicted holding a shining crown above his head, flanked by a sainted knight, whose hands rest on a sword hilt, and another haloed figure bearing a golden chalice.

A striking detail is the knight's sword, piercing the mouth of a slain dragon. The dying beast writhes, emitting sinuous reddish-orange flames, its twisted form entwined with a nude, slain man. The man's contorted, lifeless body, with an arm draped against a white platform, powerfully evokes the limp figure of Christ in Renaissance Deposition scenes, where he is removed from the cross after the crucifixion.

Christ and the two haloed figures appear to float above the dragon and the man, set against a radiant night sky illuminated by twinkling stars. The entire scene is framed by two intricately patterned columns and an ornate decorative border, adding to its grandeur. On the facing page of the published poem, Leyendecker further enhances the narrative by illustrating an artist gazing across the page at his freshly completed painting, palette and wet paintbrush still in hand, seemingly contemplating the profound message he has just brought to life.

 

Explore related art collections: Newly Researched / Men / Magazine Stories / Religous / $100,000 & Above / 1900s

See all original artwork by Joseph Christian Leyendecker

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Joseph Christian Leyendecker was born in Montabaur, Germany, and came to America at the age of eight. Showing an early interest in painting, he got his first job at 16 in a Chicago engraving house on the strength of some larger pictures he had painted on kitchen oilcloth. In the evenings after work, he studied under Vanderpoel at the Chicago Art Institute, and saved for five years to be able to go to France and attend the Academie Julian in Paris.

Upon his return, as a thoroughly trained artist with immense technical facility, Leyendecker had no difficulty in obtaining top commissions for advertising illustrations and cover designs for the leading publications. His first Post cover was done in 1899, and he did well over 300 more during the next 40 years. Among the most famous of these was his annual New Years Baby series.

His advertising illustrations made his clients famous. The Arrow Collar Man was a byword for the debonair, handsome male, and women wrote thousands of love letters to him in care of Cluett Peabody & Company. His illustrations for Kuppenheimer Clothes were equally successful in promoting an image of suited elegance. He was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1977.A major retrospective exhibition of Leyendecker's work was mounted at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1997-98.

Joseph Christian Leyendecker was born in Montabaur, Germany, and came to America at the age of eight. Showing an early interest in painting, he got his first job at 16 in a Chicago engraving house on the strength of some larger pictures he had painted on kitchen oilcloth. In the evenings after work, he studied under Vanderpoel at the Chicago Art Institute, and saved for five years to be able to go to France and attend the Academie Julian in Paris.

Upon his return, as a thoroughly trained artist with immense technical facility, Leyendecker had no difficulty in obtaining top commissions for advertising illustrations and cover designs for the leading publications. His first Post cover was done in 1899, and he did well over 300 more during the next 40 years. Among the most famous of these was his annual New Years Baby series.

His advertising illustrations made his clients famous. The Arrow Collar Man was a byword for the debonair, handsome male, and women wrote thousands of love letters to him in care of Cluett Peabody & Company. His illustrations for Kuppenheimer Clothes were equally successful in promoting an image of suited elegance. He was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame in 1977.A major retrospective exhibition of Leyendecker's work was mounted at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, in 1997-98.

Kent Steine