JULIAN RITTER
BIOGRAPHY
By GREG AUTRY
Sept 27, 2015
Julian Ritter (1909 - 2000) He was an
artist of worldwide acclaim. Revered by those who loved his work, reviled by
those he shunned. Born in 1909 he spent much of his childhood sketching and
drawing around the docks in Hamburg, Germany and dreaming of
sailing the seas.
 |
| Portrait of Julian Ritter - by Gene Forssell 1958 |
He immigrated from Germany to New York in
1924 and attended the Chicago Art Institute briefly. Julian Ritter
studied with Stanley Reckless and graduated from Art Center College
in Los Angeles, in 1932. He began showing his art in LA while still a
student. In 1939, he was hired to paint a 90' mural for the Mines and
Minerals Building, at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San
Francisco.
 | ||
| 1939 Mines & Minerals Mural - Golden Gate International Exposition |
 |
| Caplan Collection |
By 1941 he was showing at the
prestigious Gallery of Modern Art and Newhouse Gallery
in New York City. Although his personality was ill suited for the
sophisticated New York art scene, his work was admired and very
well received by the critics and public alike.
 |
| Bimbos 365 Club - San Francisco |
He was prolific. Extraordinary as a
draughtsman and colorist with a flair for the dramatic. His early work
demonstrated a style of rich vibrant color and swift purposeful brushwork. His
later works would develop a Master's touch of glazing skin tones for women that
created a luminosity not seen since the Masters of the Great Renaissance.
 |
| Portrait of Joni Morgan |
 |
| Mr Whimsey - Silver Slipper Collection |
The 1950's would see a remarkable
string of work produced. Hired to produce work for multiple venues and galleries
throughout the United States. Showing at the Swiss Chalet Gallery
in the Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Julian attended the Ringling
Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus, and is inspired to start the Mr.
Whimsy Clown series.
In San
Francisco,
he is hired to paint a Nautical theme of Mermaids and King Neptune, including a
30' wall mural, at Bimbos
365 Club.
The paintings and mural are still at Bimbo's Club today.
 |
| Bimbos 365 Club - San Francisco |
 |
| Bimbos 365 Club - San Francisco |
A trip to Mexico mid-decade saw a
preponderance of masterful landscapes and portraits of the local people whom he
grew to love. What would set the tone for the rest of his career, a Gay 90's
themed series of paintings, which would become the Silver
Slipper Collection, was created over years and hung at The
Silver Slipper Casino and Gambling Hall, in Las Vegas from 1950
until 1988.
 |
| Portrait of Janet Boyd - Collection of Greg Autry |
 |
| Las Vegas Fantasy - Collection of Greg Autry |
 |
| Las Vegas Follies - Silver Slipper Collection - Entry Piece |
Throughout his lifetime his
paintings have been shown in hundreds, perhaps thousands, of galleries around
the world. In 1963 his painting `Bachelor Housekeeping' became a
part of the Permanent Collection at the famed de
Young Museum
in San Francisco.
Raised in depravation amongst
`drunks and whores' Julian always had a fondness for the poor and the
near-do-wells of the world. He disdained those of wealth and success, the very
people he most needed to support his life as an artist. He professed he was
"just a whore" for selling his work.
Julian had several lovers
during his lifetime. Physically strong with disarming charm, he had a passionate
fire and sexual drive. He had only two women in his life, that he truly loved
beyond all else. Hilde Sabena Meyer-Radon and Julian
were married in April 1943, while he served in the US Army.
Hilde and Julian would have two children, Christine 1947 and Michael 1948.
Hilde inspired Julian, but in 1966 the unthinkable happened. After two years
suffering with cancer, Hilde passed away. Julian was distraught and
could not comprehend his loss. He became a shut-in and a drunk.
 |
| Portrait of Laurie kokx |
Over a year went by, Julian
began to recount his childhood dreams to sail the world and paint.
Pulled out of a nightmarish depression, he began painting to raise money
for his new adventure. He sold the Santa Barbara home he and Hilde
had bought, to buy a forty-five foot Yawl, The Galilee. One last
commission would secure the funds he needed to start his trip. That commission
was for Adele Kokx, for whom Julian painted a portrait of
Adele's daughter, an introverted yet beguilingly beautiful
seventeen year old, Laurie Kokx. Julian and Laurie
developed a camaraderie and connection in their short time of portrait
settings.
 |
| Julian Ritter |
In February 1968 Julian
(Fifty-nine) set the sails of The Galilee southward from Santa
Barbara. Months later, in Acapulco after trading paintings for
food and board, as well as booze and women, the bar owner was
irritated at the attention the murals received in lieu of her
"girls."
 |
| Puntarenas Costa Rica |
When Julian could not pay her upon demand, he was thrown
into jail. Julian called the only number he could find, Laurie Kokx.
The headstrong Laurie persuaded one of Julian's patrons to provide his
private plane and crew to fly her to Mexico to bail Julian out of th Mexican
jail.
In Acapulco, Laurie announced
she would sail with Julian around the world. Laurie was mesmerized by his
strong virile presence and over-the-top personality. She admired his confidence
and creativity. They became lovers and soul mates sailing the seas. They would
sail to Costa Rica where they would spend time, Julian painting
and Laurie preparing for the next leg of the journey. Laurie blossomed in
an unbridled burst of hormones and youth. Julian drank in her flower and
was emboldened. All who saw them together thought how they truly loved each
other. After six months in Puntarenas, they embarked on the next
leg of the adventure, sailing west to French Polynesia and the Society
Islands.
They spent a year in the Tahitian
Islands, all the while Julian was painting and sending work
home for shows on the Mainland. He and Laurie were happy and free to do as they
dreamed. His works sold out consistently, and he was asked for more and more
paintings. Julian amassed a large portfolio of his best works. These exquisitely
painted works he saved to take home himself. In June of 1970,
Julian and Laurie, along with a young German crewmate, set sail for Hawaii.
Revived with Laurie's companionship and love, Julian had made peace with
Hilde's passing.
 |
| Small portrait of Laurie Kokx |
The Galilee would head out
for the last leg and the most arduous part of their journey, bound for Honolulu.
Within weeks trouble developed, and soon the Galilee
was in distress.
Battered and beaten by a strong hurricane, mast broken , and all electronic
equipment aboard disabled, the crew drifted for eighty-nine days. The last
forty-nine days, with little food and water. Miraculously,
literally hours before death, they were spotted and rescued by the supply ship,
USS
Niagara Falls,
and taken to Honolulu. Sadly most of the paintings were lost at sea.
 |
| Galilee in Distress- being rescued by USS Niagara Falls |
 |
| Julian Ritters Map of Tahiti |
 |
| Aboard the Galilee - Ritter Estate |
After a month in Hawaii, Laurie
and Julian would fly home and begin their life together in Santa
Barbara. Settling in Summerland where Julian would paint and greet
his patrons and customers. Laurie thrived for awhile, encouraging Julian
to paint about his visions while lost at sea. Julian would undergo
a resurgence in his work, painting with deep passion personal works of
his visions, and his transcendence from deaths door. Julian's biggest despair
was the affects the trip had on Laurie. At the time they were
rescued, Dr. Phillip Becker would give no status as to "the
girl." Later, he declared Laurie had been only a couple of hours
from death, and was indeed fortunate to have survived.
 |
| Winfriend, Laurie, and Julian - USS Niagara Falls |
Demand for Julian's work continued
to soar. Julian declared himself "done" with dealers and
galleries, intending to sell only to his own customers and patrons. The galleries
wanted his work even more. Some renowned galleries resorted to forging work and
signing his name. Long before the marketing of "signed limited
editions" came into vogue, International Art Publishing signed an
exclusive deal to reproduce several of his nudes and clowns in large
prints. Gorham Company paid him handsomely to reproduce several
works as collector plates and statuary. His fame from the Silver
Slipper Collection grew, with the theft of a painting from the Silver
Slipper, and later with Howard
Hughes
in litigation, in part, over the Silver
Slipper Art Collection.
 |
| Portrait of Howard Hughes |
In 1972 Julian attended a gallery
show on Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas. Julian was taken with a tall,
lanky redhead, who introduced herself as a showgirl at the Silver Slipper.
Janet Boyd would become muse and model for Julian and would pose
for a "Big Portrait." Julian's
renaissance of Las Vegas works began anew.
`The
Portrait of Janet' is now the most
`iconic showgirl' painting in Las Vegas history. The gorgeous showgirl
would pose for Julian hundreds of times, including settings with her infant
daughter Bianca. In 1984, Janet would be instrumental in coordinating
what would be Julian's last big Las Vegas painting, the
Las
Vegas Fantasy.
A commissioned piece featuring four showgirls and a clown.
|
| Portrait of Janet Boyd - Collection of Greg Autry |
|
| Las Vegas Fantasy - Collection of Greg Autry |
Julian
continued painting his personal works from his memories aboard the Galilee
as well as painting what his customers wanted, the Nudes, Clowns, and the
Showgirls. He ultimately chose to rely on sales to a handful of patrons,
and only one dealer he would trust, Howard Morseburg.
 |
| Howard Morseburg Gallery Brochure |
Over the years Laurie's condition
would slowly deteriorate. She became lost in her own world, diminished in
spirit and at a loss for purpose. Briefly, Laurie opened a Flower Shop in
Summerland that seemed to uplift her. But sadly, in the summer of
1984, Julian would discover her in coitus with their gardener. Julian
devastated by her betrayal declared their relationship over. He sold
everything, including the amazing Torito Road home and studio, in
Summerland, and moved to Hawaii to live with his son.
Upon moving to Maui, Julian
spent the first seven months building a large and amazing two story studio to
work in. The fates again clamored for Julian when in December of 1985
Julian suffered a massive stroke. He would live for another fifteen
years. He tried, but never really painted after the stroke. He taught
classes as best he could, and sold a few paintings. He did make one trip with
his nurse, to Las Vegas, to sell paintings. He spent most of his
time reading and convalescing . His son, Michael, would take care of his
father dutifully until Julian passed away, March 4, 2000. Laurie
passed away mysteriously in 2006. After the boat trip aboard the Galilee, she
cajoled Julian to paint, to keep him from drinking, and to create a purpose for
him. In her own life thereafter, she could find no defense of the bottle, and
no purpose to go on. She would neither take care of herself, nor
stop drinking.
Through a legacy of adventure,
Julian pursued his passion for creating art and beauty at all cost. He shunned
the ` Big Time Art World ' to pursue his vision as an artist and to paint what
he was called to create. In talent and in execution, one of the great artists
of the Twentieth Century.
Watch
for the upcoming Biography, and Screenplay, currently in the works. Read
additional Stories about Julian's Life, Art, and Adventures, at the
Julian Ritter website, and on
Facebook.
Images provided from various sources used with permission. COPYRIGHT HOLDERS RETAIN ALL RIGHTS.
