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Ludwig Bemelmans

ルートヴィヒ・ベメルマンス

Rūtovihi Bemerumansu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1898-04-27 （Meran (Merano), South Tyrol, Austria-Hungary (now Italy)）
Died
1962-10-01 （New York City, United States） age 64
Nationality
Austrian, American
Languages
French, German, English
Residence History
Meran (birthplace) → Gmunden (Traunsee), Upper Austria → Regensburg, Germany → New York City, United States → Paris, France

Career

Occupations
Writer, Illustrator, Novelist, Painter
Active Years
1917-1962
Influenced By
May Massee (children's book editor, Viking Press), Ervine Metzl (commercial artist)
Influenced
John Bemelmans Marciano (grandson, children's author/illustrator)

Awards

Caldecott Medal
1954
Work: Madeline's Rescue
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Madeline

1939 Children's literature, picture book

Follows twelve little girls living in a Paris boarding school and the smallest of them, Madeline. Known for its rhythmic verse and distinctive illustrations.

FriendshipCourageParisChildhood
Adaptations
  • [Short animated film] Madeline (1952, UPA) / Robert Cannon (1952)
  • [Television animated series] Madeline (1988–2002) (1988)
  • [Live-action film] Madeline (1998 film) / Daisy von Scherler Mayer (1998)

Madeline's Rescue

1953 Children's literature, picture book

Madeline is rescued from drowning by a dog later named Genevieve. The book won the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations.

AdventureRescueFriendship

Madeline and the Bad Hat

1956 Children's literature, picture book

Tells of mischief caused by Pepito, the Spanish ambassador's son, who moves in next door.

MischiefReconciliationGrowing up

Madeline and the Gypsies

1959 Children's literature, picture book

Centers on an adventure at a circus and the interactions between Madeline and Pepito.

AdventureFriendshipEncountering other cultures

Madeline in London

1961 Children's literature, picture book

Pepito moves to London and Madeline and the girls visit him, resulting in new adventures.

TravelFriendshipForeign places

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

1943 Adult novel

A novel composed of many character sketches, rapid location changes, and improbable events; later adapted for the stage.

Character sketchesWry humorUrban life
Adaptations
  • [Stage play] Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (stage adaptation) / Hume Cronyn (production), Elaine Ryan (adaptation) (1949)

Bibliography

  • Hansi (1934)
  • The Golden Basket (1936)
  • My War with the United States (1937)
  • Life Class (1938)
  • Quito Express (1938)
  • Madeline (1939)
  • Small Beer (1939)
  • Fifi (1940)
  • Hotel Splendide (1941)
  • Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (1943)
  • The Blue Danube (1945)
  • Hotel Bemelmans (1946)
  • Madeline's Rescue (1953)
  • Madeline and the Bad Hat (1956)
  • Madeline and the Gypsies (1959)
  • Madeline in London (1961)
  • Marina (1962)
  • Madeline in America and Other Holiday Tales (1999, posthumous)

Adaptations

  • Madeline (1952 short animated film, UPA)
  • Madeline (1988–2002 TV animated series)
  • Madeline (1998 live-action film)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Concise, rhythmic verseSimple yet expressive illustrationsBlend of humor and urbane sophistication
Recurring Motifs
Parisian settingsTravel and hotelsChildren's adventures and mischiefFood and social life

Health

  • Pancreatic cancer
    1962
    Died of pancreatic cancer in 1962. It significantly affected his later life and activities.

Legacy

Ludwig Bemelmans is best known for the Madeline series; his concise prose and distinctive illustrations influenced later children's authors and illustrators. His works have been adapted widely and remain part of popular culture.

Museums

  • Bemelmans Bar (murals at The Carlyle Hotel) New York City, The Carlyle Hotel
  • New-York Historical Society (hosted exhibitions) New York City

Archives

  • Library of Congress (related holdings)
  • Arlington National Cemetery (burial records)

In Popular Culture

  • References in adaptations (animation, live-action film) and parodies (e.g., SNL) keep the character in popular culture.

Quotes

  • “In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines... the smallest one was Madeline.”
    Source: Madeline (1939) (1939)

Trivia

  • First language was French; second was German.
  • Became a U.S. citizen in 1918.
  • The murals at The Carlyle Hotel's Bemelmans Bar are his only publicly displayed artworks.
  • Buried at Arlington National Cemetery.