In 2014, the Malabar Farm Foundation began funding a restoration and preservation project for Louis Bromfield’s extensive art collection in the Big House at Malabar Farm. Over 100 pieces of artwork have been identified as needing some level of restoration work, including oil paintings, watercolors, prints, sculptures, and documents. To date, 43 oil paintings, 3 watercolor paintings, and a series of French still-life prints have been restored by the Inter-museum Conservation Association (ica) in Cleveland. More than $90,000 has been contributed by the Foundation toward this effort, and work continues, with more than 50 pieces on paper (paintings, ink drawings, prints, documents etc.) still in need of attention.
When the art restoration project is completed the Foundation hopes to turn its attention to the preservation of original Bromfield family textiles displayed in the Big House, especially the several bedspreads in Mary Bromfield’s Bedroom, the Black Guest Room, and the Honeymoon Room.
Art Gallery
* Click on any image to learn more, Photo Credits Ohio Department of Natural Resources *
Tom Lovell was born in New York City in 1909. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1931. By his junior year he was selling drawings to popular western and detective magazines. He continued this work after graduation, specializing in story illustrations and covers for pulp fiction magazines. Beginning in 1936 Lovell began producing illustrations for advertising agencies and magazines, including Red Book, Colliers, Cosmopolitan, and Life. He also did work for National Geographic.
In 1969, Lovell was commissioned to create a series of paintings depicting the history of the American Southwest. This work marked a turning point in Lovell’s career. In 1972, he moved to New Mexico. From that point on, he specialized in western art. In 1974, Lovell was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. In 1975, he became a member of the Cowboy Artists of America. He said, “I consider myself a storyteller with a brush.” I imagine that Louis Bromfield would have agreed.
In 1997, Tom Lovell was killed in an automobile accident in New Mexico.
The Malabar Farm oil painting that Lovell did for Calvert Whiskey was one of a series of paintings that he did for Calvert. Many of these paintings included dogs, several of them boxers. The Malabar Farm painting was done about 1947. Despite the use of Malabar Farm to promote Calvert Whiskey Louis Bromfield’s favorite whiskey was White Horse Blended Scotch Whiskey.
Tom Lovell was born in New York City in 1909. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1931. By his junior year he was selling drawings to popular western and detective magazines. He continued this work after graduation, specializing in story illustrations and covers for pulp fiction magazines. Beginning in 1936 Lovell began producing illustrations for advertising agencies and magazines, including Red Book, Colliers, Cosmopolitan, and Life. He also did work for National Geographic.
In 1969, Lovell was commissioned to create a series of paintings depicting the history of the American Southwest. This work marked a turning point in Lovell’s career. In 1972, he moved to New Mexico. From that point on, he specialized in western art. In 1974, Lovell was elected to the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. In 1975, he became a member of the Cowboy Artists of America. He said, “I consider myself a storyteller with a brush.” I imagine that Louis Bromfield would have agreed.
In 1997, Tom Lovell was killed in an automobile accident in New Mexico.
The Malabar Farm oil painting that Lovell did for Calvert Whiskey was one of a series of paintings that he did for Calvert. Many of these paintings included dogs, several of them boxers. The Malabar Farm painting was done about 1947. Despite the use of Malabar Farm to promote Calvert Whiskey Louis Bromfield’s favorite whiskey was White Horse Blended Scotch Whiskey.
James “Jimmy” Reynolds.
James Reynolds was a costume and set designer on Broadway. Of Irish descent, Reynolds was born in Warrenton, Virginia in 1891. His work on Broadway extended for 1919 to 1943. After that he began to travel, write, and paint.
He designed much of the wallpaper for Malabar’s Big House, created a Christmas Card for the Bromfields from one of his rejected wallpaper ideas, designed the curtains that hang in the Big House study, and painted the two-panel divider in the Bromfield’s study. Reynolds also painted a watercolor still- life that hangs in Mrs. Bromfield’s bedroom.
James Reynolds died in Bellagio, Italy on July 21, 1957.
James “Jimmy” Reynolds
James Reynolds was a costume and set designer on Broadway. Of Irish descent, Reynolds was born in Warrenton, Virginia in 1891. His work on Broadway extended for 1919 to 1943. After that he began to travel, write, and paint.
He designed much of the wallpaper for Malabar’s Big House, created a Christmas Card for the Bromfields from one of his rejected wallpaper ideas, designed the curtains that hang in the Big House study, and painted the two-panel divider in the Bromfield’s study. Reynolds also painted a watercolor still- life that hangs in Mrs. Bromfield’s bedroom.
James Reynolds died in Bellagio, Italy on July 21, 1957.
James “Jimmy” Reynolds.
James Reynolds was a costume and set designer on Broadway. Of Irish descent, Reynolds was born in Warrenton, Virginia in 1891. His work on Broadway extended for 1919 to 1943. After that he began to travel, write, and paint.
He designed much of the wallpaper for Malabar’s Big House, created a Christmas Card for the Bromfields from one of his rejected wallpaper ideas, designed the curtains that hang in the Big House study, and painted the two-panel divider in the Bromfield’s study. Reynolds also painted a watercolor still- life that hangs in Mrs. Bromfield’s bedroom.
James Reynolds died in Bellagio, Italy on July 21, 1957.
Jose de Zamora.
Collectively known as The Eight Ladies in Waiting, the eight Jose de Zamora paintings in the foyer of the Big House are copies of Spanish Baroque artist Francisco de Zubarán (1598-1664) and are actually images of Catholic Saints.
A contemporary of Louis Bromfield, Jose de Zamora was a Spanish writer, painter, designer, and illustrator born in Madrid in 1889.
By 1920 he was living in Paris, where he contributed articles and painted covers for the magazine Parisian. He also served as art director for the magazine Perfiles. As a
designer and illustrator Zamora created advertisements and posters for Parisian cabarets and theaters including Casino de Paris 1920-1921, Bataclan Theater and Concert Mayol 1922-1927, Moulin Rouge 1924-1927, and Folies Bergere 1926-1929. In the 1960s Zamora returned to Spain, committing suicide in Barcelona in 1971.
Jose de Zamora.
Collectively known as The Eight Ladies in Waiting, the eight Jose de Zamora paintings in the foyer of the Big House are copies of Spanish Baroque artist Francisco de Zubarán (1598-1664) and are actually images of Catholic Saints.
A contemporary of Louis Bromfield, Jose de Zamora was a Spanish writer, painter, designer, and illustrator born in Madrid in 1889.
By 1920 he was living in Paris, where he contributed articles and painted covers for the magazine Parisian. He also served as art director for the magazine Perfiles. As a
designer and illustrator Zamora created advertisements and posters for Parisian cabarets and theaters including Casino de Paris 1920-1921, Bataclan Theater and Concert Mayol 1922-1927, Moulin Rouge 1924-1927, and Folies Bergere 1926-1929. In the 1960s Zamora returned to Spain, committing suicide in Barcelona in 1971.
