April 2025 acquisition
Collection includes six Brudno spiral bound sketchbooks with study’s for completed and many unknown paintings mostly on sheets measuring 9″ x 12″ from 1930’s to 1950’s (some are loose) and one separate portrait sketch. Most of the actual sketches measure 8″ x 10.875″. The collection totals some 145 individual graphite drawings, many with gouache highlights, but includes numerous watercolors. A signed descriptive letter from James Romano, Tree Studio former resident and artist, owner of Tree Studio Gallery Art Antiques and Tree Studio Art Antiques, accompanies the collection. Romano moved into Grell’s studio after Mrs. Friedl Grell entered a German nursing home in a Chicago suburb. Romano acquired the sketchbooks directly from Friedl and Grell’s estate attorney around 1970. He sold them to Larry Schmidt in 2006. Several of the spiral sketches are signed or marked in different manners such as L G, L. GRELL, an L inside a G or simply GRELL.
This discovery and ensuing acquisition has allowed us to delve further into Grell’s mysterious mental process of visually describing the planned painting in wonderful detail. Often Grell would use opposing pages to title, describe the colors, look and feel that he desired for a particular painting using phrases such as “Warm Afternoon Sunshine” or “warm greens” or “Hot Autumn Noon Sun” and “violet shadows” or “violet skies.” It is presumed that many, if not all of these sketches, were executed. There are dozens of sketches of plants, trees and human hands along with portraits.
We also know that while painting Grell enjoyed listening to classical music having a collection of over 3,000 records a sample of which is on display in the sketchbooks where he wrote “BETHOVEN Sextet in B FLAT” on the back page of one of the sketchbook covers. On the inside cover of one of the older books, Grell signed the book and wrote his address as “L. Grell 3 E. Ontario St. Chicago ILL” which was his address from the earlier days at Tree Studio further establishing that many of the sketches are indeed from the 1930’s as Romano claims in the authentication letter. Below you will find many of the more involved productions.
Collection includes a separate sketch of an old man, likely the artist’s grandfather on his mothers side, probably drawn in Council Bluffs, IA in early 1908 during Grell’s return from Salt Lake City, UT before attending the Munich Academy. Grell also drew a similar sketch of his mother during this visit. Sheet 13″ x 13″ central figure 10″ x 6″ with a smaller facial profile off to the right; both graphite and gouache on paper, signed in blue ink l/r L Grell 08
Discovered inside were several titles from the artist of existing paintings and numerous previously unknown works.
The Grell Spiral Sketchbooks collection (Romano / Schmidt; acquired in 2025). Photos are intentionally untouched and show beyond the sheet borders to reflect their actual conditions.
