By DARLA MCCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association

Bemelmans drew this illustration for the magazine but was also known as a gourmet so this art work had to have had much meaning to him.

WARSAW — A piece of art work appeared on the cover of The New Yorker Magazine Nov. 25, 1950, and is worth considerably more today. At the time Ludwig Bemelmans created the Thanksgiving themed work you see pictured, the entire magazine sold for 20 cents. Today, most of any remaining Bemelmans original illustrations or paintings are worth a minimum of $17,000 to $25,000 each.

Ludwig Bemelmans was born April 1898 to a Belgian painter and a German woman named Frances Fischer. Bemelmans was born in Meran in the country of Austria-Hungary which is now part of Italy. His father owned a hotel in upper Austria during Bemelmans formative years but his life took a turn for the worse when his father scandalized the community by having an affair with the young boy’s governess and deserting his family. Bemelmans mother moved back to her home in Germany where Bemelmans had problems with the strict discipline in school. It was recommended he become an apprentice to his uncle Hans Bemelmans back at a hotel in Austria, but the rebellious young man got into more trouble when he allegedly shot a waiter in the hotel. Bemelmans chose to emigrate to the United States rather than being sent to a reform school.

After his arrival in America, Bemelmans worked at hotels and restaurants for a while but in 1917 he joined the Army.  He became an officer and was promoted. In 1918 he officially became a U.S. citizen. Out of the service in 1920 he worked at hotels and started doing art and illustrations on the side. He had some mild success as a cartoonist but it was not until 1930 that he began to see financial success with the publication and illustration of children’s books.  He expanded into writing adult, travel, movie scripts and even humor. He had moderate success in all these areas but was most recognized for his Madeline series of illustrated children’s books.

A mural painted by Bemelmans exists on display in Central Park in New York City.  It is on the walls of the Carlyle Hotel and Bemelmans Bar.  Also of note is the work painted on the children’s dining room wall on Aristotle Onassis’s yacht.  The yacht was named at that time Christina and later became Christina O.

Pancreatic cancer took the life of Ludwig Bemelmans in New York at age 64.  You can find his grave in Arlington National Cemetery. 

Upcoming and Current Events:

• The John Streeter exhibit of his absorbing and amazing pastels is open at Warsaw City Hall. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., now through Dec. 3, on the main Floor.
• Lakeland Art Gallery: Fall Member Show entries are on display between 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, through Dec. 1.

LAA is located at 107 N. First St., Pierceton, or www.lakelandartassociation.org. LAA is also on Facebook. Contact your author/artist Darla McCammon at [email protected], or at www.darlamc.com.