"Jockey on Racehorse with Well-Dressed Gentleman"   Lot no. 4777

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Original advertisement for Kuppenheimer Clothing, featuring a jockey on a race horse and a well-dressed gentleman in a suit

 

This illustration for Kuppenheimer Clothes appeared in various advertisements and promotional materials in 1926 and 1927, such as the cover of a race-themed Kuppenheimer advertising booklet, as well as the interior page of the Kuppenheimer Spring & Summer 1926 brochure, where the associated caption states: “This double-breasted, with slender hips and broad Curvette shoulders, will be quite the thing with stylish young fellows this spring – especially in the new shades of Ambertone and Silvertone.” A wood-engraving of the image was completed by Jacob Sander for use in newspapers in 1926. Engravings like this were often created to eliminate the difficulties associated with half-tone production on the poor quality newspaper stock.

 

The present work showcases the artist’s ability to capture an idealized vision of male beauty. The rich colors and textures of the fabrics applied with Leyendecker’s signature painterly technique further enhance the appeal of the clothing the picture advertises.

 

In the early spring of 1926, in preparation for upcoming Kuppenheimer advertising projects, J.C. Leyendecker visited the Aqueduct Racetrack horse racing facility in Queens, New York. He was directed to the legendary trainer ‘Dick’ (Herbert John Thompson), who was training the horse named Bubbling Over, who would become the model or the horse pictured in this painting. Leyendecker completed numerous sketches of Bubbling Over, as well as several gentleman models throughout the day. Charles Beach modeled for the figure of the well-dressed gentleman, though it is unknown if he accompanied Leyendecker to the Aqueduct Racetrack that day. The name of the model used for the jockey is unknown.

 

Bubbling Over won the 1926 Kentucky Derby, running in a field of thirteen and winning by five lengths with a time of 2:03 ⅘, though the horse did not enter the 1926 Preakness Stakes and records do not indicate participation in a competition at Aqueduct. Bubbling Over was pictured on the Derby’s official 1927 program, though the number displayed under the jockey is different than the number four pictured in the Kuppenheimer image. Derby records show Bubbling Over’s registered number for 1926 was fourteen. Leyendecker likely changed the number for a cleaner composition. The 1926 Kentucky Derby would be Bubbling Over’s final race.

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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