November 22, 2023

“Ever since I was a little girl, I have been familiar with the name of Louis Grell.  In my childhood home, and ever since I could remember, hung a portrait of my grandmother, Lorene de Berge, by Louis Grell. As the family story goes, my grandparents were friends with Louis Grell in Chicago where my grandparents had moved so my grandfather could attend the Chicago Art Institute in the 1940s.”

“As for my grandfather, his story is fairly unique.  He made a great deal of money at the onset of WWII by selling electronic components to the military.  He then retired at the age of 38 and moved his family to Chicago so he could attend art school.  He really wasn’t in it for commercial success; to my knowledge, I don’t think he had any shows or sold any prolific amount of paintings. I think he did immerse himself in the artist community, though.  My aunt told me of multitudes of large parties at their large estate in Lake Forest with all kinds of people.  He purchased many works of art.  I am wondering if he had been to Tree Studios and I have asked my aunt if she knows anything about it.”

Lorene de Berge, signed lower right L. Grell 1952; private collection