Oil on canvas depicting a PV-1 Ventura in action, signed by Leydenfrost at bottom left (minor wear along edges). Visible area 29 × 22 in. Frame: 32 1/4 × 25 1/4 in. Provenance: A Private Collection.

Alexander Leydenfrost was a Hungarian-American industrial designer and illustrator whose artwork during the Second World War brought the immediacy and drama of the conflict into the homes of millions of Americans. Throughout the war he produced dozens of images of American military prowess for Esquire magazine; this work was reproduced on page 89 of the February 1944 issue. The Lockheed PV-1 Ventura was specially made for the United States Navy for use in the Pacific Theater, with its most important addition being its ASD-1 search radar.