LUDWIG BEMELMANS ORIGINAL OIL PAINTING~"THE OLD PORT AND THE ARCH DE NOE"~By "Madeline" author
LUDWIG BEMELMANS. 1st Edition. No Binding.
LUDWIG BEMELMANS, (AMERICAN 1895-1962)
OIL on Board
FRAMED TO 28.5″ X 24″
(SIGHT) 23.5″ X 19″
Inscribed upper edge "The Old Port and the Arche De Noe", and inscribed lower left "Antibes". SIGNED by Ludwig Bemelmans Lower Right.
Oil and watercolor on paper mounted to board, signed at lower right and inscribed "Antibes" at lower left, inscribed "The Old Port and the Arche De Noe" along top margin, presented in the likely original frame. "The Arche de Noe", is Bemelmans personal boat which he harbored in the port of Antibes, France.
This is a spectacular piece, both detailed, and vibrant and with an active, fantastic scene of a port in France. The painting is large for an original Bemelmans and quite detailed. There is the woman pushing a cart of newly catched fish off the docks, and fisherman taking a break- chatting and smoking pipes after a long day of fishing. A large impressionistic tree with blue leaves covers the background. Off to the left is a dog standing on his hind legs next to a large fountain, and off to the right is an awning with several men sitting under the canopy at a table while chatting. And in the middle of the painting is a large sail boat. An absolutely charming scene, immense with detail and vibrancy. The port scene of Antibes is where Bemelmans harbored his personal boat, "The Arche de Noe".
FRAMED TO 28.5″ X 24″
PROVENANCE:
Ex: The Estate of the late Eleanor Revson, New York, New York. The art was purchased from an Auction House who was commissioned to sell several original paintings by Ludwig Bemelmans from the Revson estate. A copy of the invoice and lot description will be included with the artwork, and will provide both provenance and authenticity.
Original works of art by Bemelmans are extremely scarce with paintings/scenes from the characters of his books selling for over $75,000
BIOGRAPHY:
Bemelmans, Ludwig: Beloved by three generations of young readers, Ludwig Bemelmans is best known for his Madeline books. What many may not know is that Bemelmans, born in the Austrian Tyrol, considered himself more an artist than an author. Bemelmans began writing in 1934 with the introduction of Hansi, his first of 15 children’s books. His diverse language base gave him a unique and quirky style of writing that children adored. His watercolor illustrations belied a simplistic style that partnered well with his sophisticated verse. Until his death in 1962, he wrote an average of one to two books per year. In addition to his juvenile fiction, his literary works included screenplays, adult novels, and stories. Bemelmans was a contributor to Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and the New Yorker, among others. His book Madeline’s Rescue was awarded the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1953. As an artist, Ludwig Bemelmans designed a Broadway set, completed several Hollywood projects, illustrated for the cover of the New Yorker, and painted several murals. His art can be found at New York’s Carlyle Hotel, the Museé National d’Art in Paris, France, and in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. His character Madeline, the spunky heroine of Bemelmans’ classic five book series, celebrates her 75th anniversary this year.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. Please see our store for other original Illustration Artwork. ***Please note NO International Shipping due to size and weight***. Near Fine. Item #3166
Price: $20,995.00