'Mare and Foal' by Leon D'Usseau, Equestrian Modernist Oil, Chouinard, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum

Description

Signed lower right, 'Dusso' for Leon D'Usseau, Jr. (American, 1918-1991) and painted circa 1965.

A substantial, Modernist oil showing a … more Signed lower right, 'Dusso' for Leon D'Usseau, Jr. (American, 1918-1991) and painted circa 1965.

A substantial, Modernist oil showing a mare and foal frolicking in a deep chestnut landscape interspersed with foliage and areas of bright color.

Born in Los Angeles, Leon D'Usseau began training under the guidance of his father, who was among the earliest fine-art film directors to work in Hollywood. At the age of twelve, Leon was drawing seriously and, at fifteen, received a working scholarship at Chouinard School of Art where he studied under Merrill Gage and Alexander Archipenko. At this early age, he was also employed by Chouinard to teach a line-drawing class.

Adopting the anglicized brush-name of Dusso, he exhibited widely and with success including at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1937-40), the California Palace Legion of Honor (1941), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1942), the Laguna Festival of Arts, Los Angeles Artists Association (1945), the California Watercolor Society (1946) and the Audubon Association (1945). Leon Dusso was a member of the Los Angeles Artists Association, the California Watercolor Society and the Audubon Association. The artist is well-listed in relevant art reference works including 'Who Was Who in American Art', 'Artists in California' and 'Who Was Who in Western Art'. His work is held in public and private collections including the permanent collection of the Dallas Museum of Art and the de Young Museum, San Francisco.

Reference:
Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Peter Hastings Falk, Sound View Press 1999, Vol. 1, p. 991; Artists in California 1786-1940, Third Edition, Edan Milton Hughes: Crocker Art Museum, Sheridan Books 2002, Vol. 1, p. 335; et al. less