Charles Cobelle

Charles Cobelle, born Carl Edelman (1902–1994), was a modern French master of painting, lithography and a fine muralist, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France. He is considered the last link to the great tradition of the Open Line School of Paris. In the late 1920s, Cobelle moved to the United States, where his paintings were immediately sought after by galleries and private collectors alike.

By the 1950s, spurred by the commercial success of his mentor, Dufy, Cobelle had achieved phenomenal success commercially with his Parisian-influenced style. Much like contemporary artists and designers at the time, his designs graced a number of pottery patterns for various pottery companies, including Midwinter Stylecraft, Universal Potteries and Homer Laughlin China Company.

In addition to creating advertising illustrations for everything from hosiery to French perfume, Cobelle created a number of murals throughout the country in noteworthy public locations such as The Painted Desert Room of the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, Neiman-Marcus in Dallas and on the cruise ships of the Holland America Line.

Art Throughout his long career, Cobelle painted his favorite subjects; Paris street scenes, racetracks, regattas and casinos. The subjects in Cobelle's paintings were not of actual locations or events.

His paintings are characterized by thin, descriptive line-work over broad patches of bold color. First, Cobelle would map out a scene in blocks of bold, expressive color. Then, he would define the imagery with spontaneous, fluid line work. Many of his paintings were painted on canvas with mixed media - oils, acrylics, tempera, conte crayon, ink, whatever was at hand.

In 1965, a fire ravaged his studio at his home in Ridgefield, Connecticut. As a result, most of his early work was lost, as were all school records and correspondence.

In his later years he signed his paintings "Chas Cobelle."

Exhibitions In addition to his mixed media paintings, his work has also been highlighted on the covers of magazines. His murals have been featured on the walls of residences, public buildings, hotels and restaurants.

Collections: Hartford Antheneum Wm. Snaith - Pres. Raymond Lowry Assoc. Mr. Von Rumohr - Collector Hugh Leighton - Collector St. Croix, V.I. Mrs. Helen Hart- American Brass Co. Donald Deskey - Designer Tamanaco Hotel- Caracas, Venezuela Mark Hopkins Hotel- San Francisco, Calif. Henry End - Collector-Int. Designer Daniel Whitlock - Lazard Freres Stuart M. Seymour - American Distilling Co. Parke Bernet Galleries - Paintings sold in 1961, 1962, 1963 Howard Hughes - Collector/Industrialist Burt Parks - Collector/Celebrity

Cobelle Exhibits: Niveau Galleries - Palm Beach Schoneman Galleries Lord & Taylor Gallery Revel - New York 70th St. Gallery - New York Park West Galleries - Michigan

Magazine and Brochure Covers: Cue Magazine This Week Magazine Elizabeth Arden Round Hill Publishing Emerald Beach Hotel Distinguished Resorts

Murals: Neiman Marcus Co. - Dallas, Texas The Royal Box - American Hotel, New York Painted Desert Room at the Desert Inn - Las Vegas, Nevada Raymond Lowry Associates Richs - Atlanta, Georgia Kenyon Hall - Michigan State University American Tobacco - Caracas, Venezuela Henry Ford Museum - Murals & Sculpture Norman Belle Geddes - Murals & Sculpture Holland American Line - Murals & Sculpture Cruise Ships of Wilson Line - Murals & Sculpture Gimbel Bros. - Philadelphia, Pa Teheran Restaurant - New York Administration Building - City of New York Bali-Hi-Room - Robert Meyer Hotel Jacksonville, Florida Estate Carlton Hotel - St. Croix, V.I. W.&J. Sloane for Country Club - Spring Lake, N.J. 200 Fifth Ave. Club - New York Chalfonte Haddon Hall Hotel - Atlantic City, N.J.