WATCH HILL, R.I. – Ocean House paid homage to the beloved illustrator and author Ludwig Bemelmans on the 125th anniversary of his April 27, 1898 birthday with the addition of the Bemelmans Gallery and Bemelmans Suite to the luxury beachfront hotel located near Newport, Rhode Island.
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 that bring meaning to various pieces in the collection.
The Bemelmans Suite, a crowning jewel of the Bemelmans story, will be unveiled in May and will include ephemera and images reflective of Bemelmans’ life and legacy, allowing history and trivia aficionados to enjoy the follies and background of the celebrated artist and writer.
“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 cafe 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.”
About Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans left a lasting impact on modern day culture and children’s literature with his whimsical and witty style. Although he was most widely known for his Madeline series, he was a notable artist and relentless “connoisseur of life,” and he drew with a child’s eye and wrote with the wit of an adult. But few people know about Bemelmans’ deep connection to hospitality and travel. He was born into a hotel family and began his career in the industry, arriving in New York from his homeland of Austria at 16 and landing a job as a busboy at the Ritz Hotel in New York. He went on to become a banquet manager there, and his drawings and books offer a candid glimpse of the lives of individuals in the hospitality business and experiences in travel and dining. His legend lives on in hospitality through notable establishments such as Bemelmans Bar in New York, and now Ocean House in Rhode Island.
About Ocean House
Located on the scenic Atlantic coast in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Ocean House was originally built in 1868, attracting distinguished guests. The grand Victorian hotel was a beach resort where generations of families and guests from American came to spend the summer season. It closed in 2003 when it was deemed beyond repair, and in 2004 the concept of a new structure replicating the original exterior design was conceived. In 2010, it reopened after a $140-million-dollar historic rebuild. It features 49 guest rooms, 20 suites, and also private cottage residences available for rent. Today, Ocean House is a year-round destination, one of only 14 Forbes Five-Star hotels in the world, and a member of Relais & Chateaux.
