Leon Dabo (Leon Dabo)

Leon Dabo

Artist, muralist, writer, and lecturer. He was born Leon Schott and was the eldest son of Ignace Schott and Madeleine Oberle. Born in France, he was 5yrs old when the family immigrated to the U.S. on January 5, 1870. The Schott’s settled in Detroit, MI where Ignace, an artist, was Leon’s first art instructor. When Ignace Schott died in 1883, Leon went to New York City where he was employed by the ecclesiatic decorating firm of J&R Lamb. He spent some time in Europe furthing his art studies, but returned to New York in late 1889 with his new wife Mary Jane Ford. It was at this time he began to use the name Dabo, perhaps because his parents had come from the Dabo area of France. Leon and Mary Jane (Jennie) had two children Madeleine Helen and Leon (George) Hartnett. Leon and his brother Theodore created a partnership, decorating several churches in Brooklyn and creating other mural works in the New York and Tri-State areas.  He also continued his work for J&R Lamb where one of his employers, Charles R. Lamb, recognized his talent and asked him to show some of his landscape paintings at the National Arts Club.  Success came quickly and he was one of the radical new painters just after the turn of the century that changed the art scene in America.  He was an active member of the American Painter’s & Sculptor’s, the organization that created the great Armory Show of 1913.  Made a life member of the National Arts Club in 1913, Leon was also the President of The Pastellists from 1910-1914, the President of the Brooklyn Society of Artists from 1926-1928, made a National Acamedician in 1944, and was a member of many art organizations both the U.S. and in Europe. Leon and Mary Jane separated in the 1920s and after Mary Jane’s death in 1945, Leon married Stephanie Ofenthal on August 8, 1946.  He continued to work both here and on the continent into his 90th year, signing his last canvases in 1955.  His works are in over 30 museums world wide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, the Louvre in Paris, the National Galleries of the U.S. and Canada. (bio by: Firmin)  Family links:  Parents:  Ignace Schott (1818 – 1883)  Spouses:  Stephanie Ofenthal Dabo (1894 – 1974)*  Mary Jane Ford Dabo (1865 – 1945)*  Children:  Madeleine Helen Dabo Douglas (1891 – 1947)* *Calculated relationship

Born

  • July, 09, 1865
  • France

Died

  • November, 11, 1960
  • USA

Cemetery

  • Long Island National Cemetery
  • USA

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