As I prepare for fall, redecorating, and my newly joined Art Nouveau class, I’m thinking about early twentieth century illustrators.   I’ve always loved the visuals in that slice of history. Lately I’ve been collecting images by J.C. Leyendecker.  I was shocked when I realized that today that I unwittingly to run by his magnificent old estate every morning on my morning loop!

As states Wikipedia, “The premier illustrator for the enormously popular Saturday Evening Post for much of the first half of the 20th century, Leyendecker’s work both reflected and helped mold many of the visual aspects of the era’s culture in America. The mainstream image of Santa Claus as a jolly fat man in a red fur-trimmed coat was popularized by Leyendecker, as was the image of the New Year Baby. The tradition of giving flowers as a gift on Mother’s Day was started by Leyendecker’s May 30, 1914 Saturday Evening Post cover depicting a young bellhop carrying hyacinths.”