Leslie Thrasher Paintings

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published October 13, 1928 Great Uncle Ulysses Grant Simpson comes to visit Sandy and Lil and stays for dinner, an event that he considers the c...

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published April 13, 1929. The opera is in town for one night only, making it the social event of the season. Sandy and Lil sit in their box seats, gazing at the less elite audience members in the orchestra and haughtily critiquing the wardrobe choices of other wealthy socialites. The couple excitedly watches as the Opera begins, and eagerly await the gathering in their home after the performance, to which they have invited the star, Paltrianni. Upon his arrival at the Jenkins’ home, Paltrianni comments on how extravagantly the couple lives. However, much to Lil’s horror, there was no lavish banquet awaiting them, for the butler Meadows was found drunkenly passed out on a chair next to the empty dining room. (Liberty magazine, April 13, 1929, p. 68) “For the Love o’ Lil: The Picture Story of an American Family” In 1926, under his long-term contract to produce a cover per week for Liberty magazine, Leslie Thrasher introduced a signature cast of characters that appeared each week, telling a serialized story through his illustrations. Liberty touted its new cover serial as “something no magazine has ever done before…Heretofore, all magazine covers have been disconnected pictures.” To help readers follow the plot from week to week, a short story summary was printed in each issue. (Liberty magazine, June 19, 1926, pp. 69-70). “For the Love o’ Lil” centers around the lives of Lil Morse and Sandy Jenkins and includes recurring characters from their extended family and social circles. The serial follows the couples’ adventures through courtship, the ups and downs of married life, the antics of their offspring with the neighborhood children, and the complex dynamics of relationships with in-laws. The goal was to show a typical modern American family whose eccentricities and foibles would attract readers each week. Thrasher used himself as the model for Lil’s father, Robert E. Lee Morse. Liberty further engaged readers by running contests for best titles, and later, for suggested storylines. The model proved successful and “For the Love o’ Lil” became a popular hallmark of the publication for many years, resulting in a 1930 film adaptation starring the flapper Sally Starr. Leslie Thrasher Leslie Thrasher first began contributing covers to Liberty in 1924, and in 1926 he was offered a contract to create a cover per week at the rate of $1,000 per week. Going against the advice of his friend Norman Rockwell, Thrasher accepted the contract, agreeing to complete a weekly cover for six years - an immensely challenging endeavor requiring that both new ideas and new artwork be produced at an extremely rapid pace. The continuing storyline of the cover serial “For the Love o’ Lil” helped Thrasher keep up with the constant demand for new images. Due to declining circulation, Liberty terminated Thrasher’s contract in 1932. A few years later in 1936, Thrasher died from pneumonia caused by smoke inhalation from a fire in his home, which also destroyed much of his original artwork. An incredibly prolific artist, Thrasher had created more than 360 covers in his lifetime for various publications, including 23 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. Leslie Thrasher was born in Piedmont, West Virginia. He studied art at the Philadelphia Academy and at the age of 16, won a scholarship that allowed him to study in Paris. Upon his return to the United States, Thrasher studied with Howard Pyle in Wilmington, Delaware and briefly worked as a portrait painter before moving to New York City to begin his commercial career producing illustration for magazines and advertising agencies. Thrasher also served in World War I, where he was assigned work as a camouflage painter. Date: 1929 Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 20.00" x 16.00" Signature: Signed Lower Right Liberty Magazine Cover, 4/13/29 "Opera Night"

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published July 12, 1930. Lil and Sandy’s neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Smithers, take their daughter Gwen and little Ulysses to the beach. The childre...

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published January 9, 1932. Sandy and Lil are excited to welcome the new year in 1932 and leave the past year of job losses, stock market crashes...

Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 22.00" x 9.75" Signature: Signed Lower Right

Signed Lower Left by Artist Liberty Magazine Cover, January 27th, 1934

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published September 18, 1926. Lil receives an unexpected flower delivery at the Morse home, while a jealous Sandy glowers in alarm and disapprov...

“Lil Watches Her Step!: And Plays the Feminine Lead in a Risky Office Drama,” original cover for Liberty magazine, published November 5, 1927. Lil takes out her shorthand book as he...

Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 20.00" x 16.00" Signature: Signed Lower Left

Medium: Oil on Canvas Dimensions: 28.00" x 22.00" Signature: Signed Lower Right

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published June 28, 1930. Gwendolyn and Ulysses sit on the front steps of the Jenkins house, wishing for rain so they could play in mud puddles. ...

Original cover for Liberty magazine, published February 28, 1931. After being struck by a car in a hit and run accident, Red Hancock is on his third day of recovery in the hospital....