Signed lower right: JC Leyendecker

Joseph Christian Leyendecker (American, 1874-1951) Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags, The Saturday Evening Post cover, September 9, 1911 Oil on canvas 30 x 21 inches (76.2 x 53.3 cm) Signed lower right: JC Leyendecker Property from the BSA Settlement Trust, Sold for the Benefit of Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse LITERATURE: Boys' Life magazine, The Boy Scouts of America, November 1912, cover; L.S. Cutler, J.G. Cutler, J.C. Leyendecker, American Imagist, New York, 2008, p. 112, illustrated. Painted just one year after the Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910, J.C. Leyendecker's Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags became one of the most iconic and widely reproduced images in the organization's history. The painting powerfully embodies the values at the heart of scouting, capturing the essence of leadership, teamwork, and preparedness. It has been reproduced extensively across Boy Scouts materials, solidifying its place as one of the most significant works in the Boy Scouts' visual canon. In this scene, two scouts are engaged in flag signaling, a critical skill in the early 20th century and one of the required merit badges for achieving the prestigious Eagle Scout rank until 1950. The central scout, with flags held high, demonstrates confident leadership, while the second scout, holding binoculars, embodies vigilance and teamwork. Their sturdy uniforms, focused expressions, and resolute postures encapsulate the spirit of self-reliance that the Boy Scouts have long championed. The painting specifically depicts Semaphore Code, a visual communication system developed by French engineer Claude Chappe in 1794, in which the position of two flags represents letters of the Latin alphabet. Here, the scout signals the letter "L," while the second scout watches for signals from others. Semaphore and flag signaling were important skills in scouting before becoming obsolete with the advent of new communication technologies like the telegraph and telephone. Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags first appeared on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post in September 1911, followed by its use in Boys' Life: The Boy Scout Magazine. Interestingly, both publications accidentally reversed the image, resulting in the scout signaling "disregard previous signal" instead of the intended "L." On the right side of the composition, Leyendecker includes the Boy Scouts' First Class eagle pin emblem alongside the motto "Be Prepared," reinforcing the painting's message of vigilance and readiness. Referred to as the "Leyendecker Design" in Boys' Life Magazine, this image became a hallmark of Boy Scouts publications and was featured on numerous editions of the Boy Scouts of America: Handbook for Boys. It was also adapted into posters, prints, pins, advertisements, and even commemorative medals. One of the most notable adaptations came in 1913 when the National American Woman Suffrage Association awarded scouts medals featuring the design for their participation in the Great Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C. Despite these varied formats, Leyendecker's signature beneath the lower flag remained a constant. Leyendecker's contributions to the Boy Scouts and American visual culture extended far beyond this single work. His influence permeated everyday life, with his images appearing on calendars, medals, and handbooks that reached countless households. Boy Scouts Signaling with Flags not only captures a moment of action but also encapsulates the core values of scouting—responsibility, leadership, and preparedness—making it a lasting symbol within the Boy Scouts' legacy. Opening Bid: $100,000 HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Glue lined canvas. Faint hairline craquelure in the central figures hat and forehead. Slightly yellowed varnish. Under UV exam, Small 1/4 inch spot of retouching in the lower right corner, not extending into the figures. Small pin dot of inpaint in the background, above the bush. Finely applied dots and dashes of retouching in the arms of the figures. Framed Dimensions 32.5 X 23.5 Inches