This painting is by Joseph Christian Leyendecker, one of the preeminent American illustrators. He studied at The Académie Julian (a private art school in Paris), where he became acquainted with the works of Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. Impressed by their mastery, he chose once and for all the poster genre and created a lot of popular advertising posters.
One of these posters was made specially for Christmas for the "Kuppenheimer" company. At the very beginning of his career Leyendecker created a very successful promotional image for the "Arrow Collar" company. This handsome and elegant man is so attractive! But keep in mind that it was the artist`s lover, Charles Beach, who was a model for Leyendecker here.
Sorenson grew up in the Old West of America. He was deeply embedded with a love for the stories and imagery that characterized the Old West and which continues to motivate him to this day. Before becoming an artist, he worked as a horse trainer and even as a performance gunfighter. But it’s in the past — Sorens' paintings with his cowboys and thoroughbreds grace the covers of the most popular US men’s magazines today (West horsemen, The Cattleman etc.). The Americans adore him: the top of the Palo Duro Canyon, which the artist often depicts in his works, was named in his honor.
High-speed gifts' delivery, needless to say!
Here our art shopping ends, although a real one is just beginning for many of us. The most important in these enjoyable worries is to follow one rule: to stop in time, otherwise you can become a Rockwell or Leyendecker’s hero or heroine!
How badly one just want to dream a little more, to make wishes in advance, to gain strength before the holidays and calmly wait for the New Year, Santa Claus, or simply an ordinary miracle.