Joseph Christian Leyendecker

Sale: Sotheby's New York, December 2, 1982, lot 128
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner

Michael Schau, J.C. Leyendecker, New York, 1974, p. 77, illustrated in color

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com. This painting is in beautiful and perfect condition. The canvas is unlined. The paint layer is undamaged and seems to be clean. Leyendecker has a fairly broad, brushy technique, which allows some of the ground color and undercolor to show through in numerous places. There are many areas within the turquoise sky that are not fully painted. There are also intentionally unpainted areas in the neck of the standing figure, in his hair and in the flag behind him, which are a part of the artist's lively technique. The original paint does read quote strongly under ultraviolet light in places, particularly in the flag beneath the "N" of "NAVY," where there are two diagonal brushstrokes that read stronger. However, there are no retouches. It is recommended that the work be hung as is.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This painting was used as the illustration for a 1918 U.S. Navy recruiting poster.

Born into a wealthy family in Milwaukee, Stanley J. Seeger (1930-2011) became one of the world’s most prolific and private collectors, acquiring magnificent works in numerous fields from paintings by Pablo Picasso, Jasper Johns and Francis Bacon, to books by Joseph Conrad and an original manuscript of Citizen Kane.  Beginning with the spectacular sale of his 88 Picasso works in 1992, Sotheby’s has had the privilege of offering most of the collection in a series of remarkably successful sales in New York, London and Milan over the last two decades, most recently,1000 Ways of Seeing: The Private Collection of the late Stanley J. Seeger, held on 5 and 6 March 2014.