CONDITION REPORT:

This work is in excellent condition. The canvas has been lined (View Image). Under UV: there is a small area of inpainting area under Leyendecker’s signature block with no intrusion into his actual monogram (View Image). There is a very small inpainting area to the left of Santa’s shoelace tip (View Image). Extreme upper-left corner of canvas there is a small dab of inpainting on the white border (View Image). A very small strengthening dash to the area adjacent to Santa’s chair leg (View Image). A few minor strengthening areas are noted in the folds of Santa’s suit. A very minor amount of additional dash and pin-dot inpainting is viewable under UV. The painting displays no craquelure and presents tight and virginal. All work was competently completed by a master conservator.

NOTE: In 1923, Leyendecker’s signature-monogram was originally rendered (on this painting) with a “fugitive” oil pigment (possibly rose madder or alizarin crimson) that, over time, has somewhat faded. Many of Leyendecker’s paintings were signed with this same colored pigment. Leyendecker’s personalized inscription (to Richard Wyndham Hoffman (sic)), however, utilized paint that has proved very permanent. Both the original monogram and the inscription (added in 1937 at time of gifting) do not fluoresce under UV. Leyendecker presented this painting to Richard when he modeled again for JCL’s September 18, 1937 POST cover, “First Long Suit.”

The painting is currently ready to hang and is displayed in a custom frame from LOWY (NYC).