Ludwig Bemelmans 1898 - 1962

The artist
(Hammer Galleries, New York, 1959)
Private Collection, 1959 (acquired from the above)
Acquired by the present owner circa 2008

The lovable character Madeline was a product of the imagination of Ludwig Bemelmans and in 1939 the little Parisian's impish and fearless personality became known to readers through Bemelmans' charming illustrations and clever verse. Madeline's adventures and antics with her beloved teacher Miss Clavel and eleven schoolmates have delighted millions of children and adults for decades. Born in Austria in 1898, Bemelmans emigrated to the United States in 1914. Madeline was named after the artist's wife but modeled after his daughter, Barbara who was born in 1935. During his lifetime, Bemelmans published six Madeline books, while a seventh was discovered after his death and published posthumously.