In 1938, French and Cadmus posed for a series photographs with the noted photographer George Platt Lynes (1907–1955). These photographs were not published or exhibited while Lynes was living and show the intimacy and relationship of the two. In the photographs, 14 of which survive today, the subjects, Cadmus and French, vacillate between exposure and concealment, with French generally being the more exhibitionist of the two. Cadmus stated that French was the model for all four male figures in his 1935 painting, "Gilding the Acrobats", as well as his 1931 painting, "Jerry". In addition, French modeled as John Smith for Camdus' mural in 1938, "Pocahontas Rescued Captain John Smith" at the Richmond Parcel Post Building.