NEW YORK CITY—The American Illustrators Gallery is pleased to announce its current exhibition of artworks, Autumn: Illustrations from the “Golden Age”, on view through December 2008. Featured artists from the Golden Age of American Illustration include J.C. Leyendecker, Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, John Clymer, Howard Chandler Christy, and Jessie Willcox Smith, among others. J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951) created the first brand name, the Arrow Collar Man, which virtually launched the advertising industry. Leyendecker’s Roaring Twenties magazine images created fashion statements inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great Gatsby as well as generations to follow. During the fall season when the air began to cool, Leyendecker’s Kuppenheimer advertisements were beautiful introductions to the fall trends. The study for Student—House of Kuppenheimer illustrates a young man prepared for the cold outdoors dressed in a chic “Cavalier” style coat. He is handsome and scholarly, prepared for both the fall semester and the fall weather. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) depicted autumn fashions with a similar charm and feeling of nostalgia as Leyendecker. In his Judge magazine cover, Petticoats and Pants, Rockwell illustrates a humorous perspective on the origin of women wearing trousers. Other artworks highlighting the different styles of fall include Going Into Breeches by Jessie Willcox Smith (1863-1935) and Lucky Catch by Philip R. Goodwin (1881-1935). J.C. Leyendecker also painted global traditions establishing icons such as: baby ringing in the New Year, flowers on Mother’s Day, and turkey on Thanksgiving. His Saturday Evening Post cover Thanksgiving—Doughboy Walking With Turkey was a festive way to illustrate the soldier during the holidays. Leyendecker portrays the grinning doughboy with a basket of harvested items slung onto his rifle while simultaneously leading a giant turkey to its unforeseen doom. In light of the political season, artworks on display will include Norman Rockwell’s studies for Breakfast Table Political Argument depicting a young couple engaged in a clash of political views, as well as Women at the Polls in New Jersey in the Good Old Times by Howard Pyle (1853-1911). When published this historic illustration served as a reminder of the rights women had lost in 1807 until the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Autumn is known for its multitude of colors and rich scenery. This is best personified in a painting from the children’s series Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962) entitled In the Autumn Wind, He Boasted, That He Flew The Highest Kite. The illustration features Pepito sitting high on his rooftop flying a kite while in the background lies Paris bathed in the golden colors of fall. Rolf Armstrong (1889-1960) captured the enchantment of fall as well as the beautiful women. Let’s Go Places, a Brown & Bigelow illustration shows a pretty young woman with rosy cheeks framed by gold, red, and orange leaves shaded in around her. Armstrong’s pastel portraits are known for their luminosity, and this is a perfect example of the dazzling autumn palette. American Illustrators Gallery, 18 East 77th Street near Madison Avenue. For information, call 212.744.5190 or visit our website at www.americanillustrators.com. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 5: 30 pm.