Paintbrush and easel

by Dr. Lori Verderame

Louis Bosa (1905-1981) was born in Codroipo, Italy near the city of Venice. The son of a stone carver, Bosa first began working as a sculptor with an interest in forging iron. He studied in Venice at the Academia delle Belle Arti before coming to the United States at age 18.

He arrived in New York and studied art with John Sloan at the Art Students League. After years working in the city, Bosa moved to Pennsylvania.  Often times, he would be found painting in the quaint river town of Riegelsville, PA along the Delaware River. He moved to Bucks County in 1938 after purchasing a log cabin that he renovated himself on a plot of land.

During the early years of the 1940s, Bosa remained friends with his New York artist colleagues. In fact, the Abstract Expressionist painter, Jackson Pollock, was a close friend of Bosa and the two visited each other numerous occasions.

Later, Bosa taught at the Arts Students League and held studio classes in New York. Bosa exhibited regularly and received critical acclaim for his work. His work is in the collections of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Montclair Art Museum, James A. Michener Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Carnegie Institute.

While he was well known for his interest in the stage and for his love of costume, his paintings often incorporated aspects of the theatre.

Request an online appraisal of your Louis Bosa piece from Dr. Lori.