Ocean House pays homage to the beloved illustrator and author Ludwig Bemelmans on the 125th anniversary of his April 27, 1898, birthday with the announcement of the Bemelmans Gallery and Bemelmans Suite.
The Bemelmans Gallery
The curated Gallery collection, owned by the historic hotel’s proprietors Charles and Deborah Royce, includes original works, architectural commissions, illustrations of product campaigns, and illustrations of the beloved Madeline series.
It is the largest permanent, private collection of work by Bemelmans on public display in North America, and showcases select pieces which have never been seen by the public before.
The Gallery also features detailed didactics to bring meaning to various pieces in the collection.
The Bemelmans Suite, a crowning jewel of the Bemelmans story and connection to Ocean House, will be unveiled this May.
This will include ephemera, and images reflective of Bemelmans’ life and legacy, allowing history and trivia afficionados to enjoy the follies and background of the celebrated artist and writer.
Thoughts from the curator
“Ludwig Bemelmans was an iconic, prolific, and witty artist and writer who continues to appeal to people of all ages,” said Deborah Goodrich Royce.
“Many of his works portray all levels of society with humorous ‘behind-the-scenes’ glimpses of hotel and café life. Naturally these playful pieces fit perfectly into our hotel setting.”
“We are thrilled to share his storied legacy with our valued guests and visitors through this new Gallery and the Bemelmans Suite at Ocean House.”
The additional amenities
Additional Bemelmans milestone offerings and amenities include the 2023 re-release of To the One I Love Best.
A witty and charming account of the wildly entertaining Elsie de Wolfe in the 1950s; and the recent re-release of Bemelmans’ Hotel Splendide,
This includes a cover quote from the late Anthony Bourdain affectionately referring to Bemelmans as “the original bad boy of the New York hotel scene.”
Published by Pushkin Press and distributed by Penguin Random House, Hotel Splendide features autobiographical accounts of backstairs folly and more.
In conjunction with the newly released Bemelmans’ classics, copies of the books will be in Ocean House’s guest rooms, and US readers have an opportunity to win a copy of each book plus a luxury stay in the Ocean House Bemelmans Suite for two. Details can be found here: https://bit.ly/BemelmansSS