Monday, July 6, 2009

Tamara De Lempicka

Tamara deLempicka is one of the most famous painters of the art deco period. She was born as Maria Górska in Poland, her father was Boris Gurwik-Górski, a lawyer, and her mother, the former Malvina Decler.




After Poland Maria moved to Russia where stayed until the Bolsheviks arrested her husband Tadeusz Łempicki during the Russian Revolution. After she secured his release they left Russia for Paris. There she enrolled at the Academie de la Grand Chaumiere and studying privately. She was quite a prolific artist (in part facilitated by her spare simple style) and was much sought after as a portrait artist.



At the threat of a second World War, she left Paris for America. She went to Hollywood, to become the "Favorite Artist of the Hollywood Stars". She and her second husband, Baron Raoul Kuffner, one of her earliest and wealthiest patrons, moved into American film director King Vidor's former house in Beverly Hills.



In 1978 she moved to Mexico permanently, buying a beautiful house in Cuernavaca called Tres Bambus, built by a Japanese architect in a chic neighborhood. She despaired of growing old and in her last years sought the company of young people. She mourned at the loss of her beauty and was cantankerous to the end.



Tamara De Lempicka died in her sleep on March 18, 1980 with her daughter Kizette at her side. Her wish to be cremated and have her ashes spread on the top of the volcano Popocatepetl was carried out.