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Painting of Bela Lugosi's Ownership. Among the f Painting of Bela Lugosi's Ownership.

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Other Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:5,200.00 - 7,800.00 USD
Painting of Bela Lugosi's Ownership. Among the f Painting of Bela Lugosi's Ownership.
<B>Painting of Bela Lugosi's Ownership.</B></I> Among the few possessions Bela Lugosi was able to maintain throughout the dizzying ups-and-downs of his career was his prized collection of art. This dramatic painting, <I>Bridge at Scerabaya,</B></I> is dated 1919 in the lower right corner and was created in the Impressionistic style, which was then just coming into favor. Lugosi owned this striking artwork at least as far back as 1930 - it's visible in one of the publicity shots taken of Lugosi in his Hudson Avenue house in Hollywood at the time of the release of <I>Dracula.</B></I> Bela cherished <I>Bridge at Scerabaya,</B></I> which he owned for at least 26 years and possibly considerably longer (he might even have brought it with him from Europe). It accompanied him to his lavish homes in the Hollywood Hills, his "Dracula House" in North Hollywood, and all the way to his final and humble Hollywood apartment where he died in 1956. Lugosi's widow Hope kept this picture long after she had parted with the famous Lugosi-in-Prince Albert attire portrait (sold in a recent Heritage auction) and Bela's painting of a nude Clara Bow. She presented <I>Bridge at Scerabaya</B></I> to the cosigner, who was her personal friend, shortly before her 1997 death. The impressive frame, with a small plaque that reads, "<I>Bridge at Scerabaya</B></I> - collection of Bela Lugosi," has been recently provided. This is a personal belonging that Bela Lugosi proudly displayed, an obvious pleasure for him during all the triumphs and tragedies of his stardom - and a very impressive work of art in its own right.