While reseaching today's series on artist Joseph Cristian Leyendecker (1874-1951), I repeatedly came across statements by both experts and casual observers to the effect of: "The man who defined masculinity in the first half of the 20th Century was gay." Born in Germany, but brought to Chicago by his parents at age two, he eventually relocated to Paris to study and then to New York where he became very successfull in the arena of commercial and magazine work. Although he never spoke of being gay, he lived openly as such with his lover and favorite model, Charles Beach, shown below:
Fortunately for us, there is a large body of Leyendecker's work extant, and it can be divided roughly into three categories: sports, men's fashion, and patriotism. In all of them, there is a masculinity that can be rugged, vulnerable, innocent, and sometimes a bit brutish. We begin with sports today, but future sets will cover the other themes as well as Charles Beach's contributions.
This is actually a photograph of Neil Hamilton admiring a painting that Joe leyendecker gifted him and for which he did model. There is only one known photo of Charles Beach, taken in the living room of the Mount Tom house, and it is at quite a distance. If there were others perhaps Charles destroyed them, along with all their correspondence, after Joe's death
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above about this being Neil Hamilton, who was one of the top models of the period, and then went on to become Commissioner Gordon in the Batman TV series.
ReplyDeleteIn his heydey, he got more fan mail than Valentino. When his career had crashed and burned in the 1940s, he tried to commit suicide. A Catholic priest helped turn him around, and Hamilton became a staunch Catholic thereafter.
I don't know if he was completely straight or not, but he was married to a woman from 1922 until his death.
SB Dan
Thanks, guys, for the correction. The photo is shown on several reputable websites as Mr. Beach, but I am now convinced that this isn't him.
DeleteLove this series! However, among all the beautiful art you featured today, I have to admit that I'm most fascinated by the painting of a soldier walking a turkey on a leash in this photo. Have to wonder what prompted or inspired Leyendecker to paint it. Hope it still exists somewhere. And I hope everything turned out okay for the turkey. Looks like that backpack might be filled with the makings for some Thanksgiving dinner side dishes.
ReplyDeleteNick
Nick, the painting is indeed still around, and from what I have been able to discern, it was a World War I patriotic piece about an American soldier finding a way to celebrate Thanksgiving while at war. So the outlook for the turkey was grim.
DeleteA pleasure to see this! I have always admired his style and technique and have a beautiful coffee table book of his work. I never tire of perusing its pages.
ReplyDeleteI've been meaning to do this series for years. Glad you enjoyed it, Pat!
DeleteAny nude photo of Neil Hamilton? He is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteNot that I know of.
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