Years ago while browsing a second-hand store I became entranced by a moody oil painting of a tugboat with a silhouette of lower Manhattan in the background. The painting was covered in grime and might have decorated a smoky bar that served longshoremen who worked the waterfront. It was beyond my budget but I offered a credit card and carried it to my office where it’s been hanging ever since. The date appeared to be 1942, but I couldn’t recognize the signature that was partially hidden by the frame, and never identified the artist… until now.
While searching the web for images of New York City I recognized the artist’s style and matched the signature with the painting. The name was Bela de Tirefort, an artist once part of the Greenwich Village scene but now forgotten. My thrill of identifying the painter was tempered by the nearly complete lack of information about his life after searching the internet for hours.
Bela de Tirefort was an immigrant from either Austria or Eastern Europe – both are mentioned in various bios. Born in 1894, he painted Manhattan street scenes from the 1930s to the 1950s. Subjects include iconic locations such as Washington Square Park, the Flatiron building, elevated subways, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the riverfront. His paintings were executed in muted tones, and reflect the sensibilities of the Ashcan School that flourished in the late 19th and early 20th Century. His views of the river and lonely streets might have been influenced by Reginald Marsh and Edward Hopper who painted New York City in the 1930’s.
Bela de Tirefort exhibiting at an open air art market in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn
An article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle published October 12, 1932, in the midst of the Great Depression, provides a rare photograph of de Tirefort at an open air art market in Grand Army Plaza. The article reveals that he was an organizer of the show, where prices ranged from one dollar to $15.00.
In 1966 de Tirefort retired to St. Petersburg, Florida where he died in 1993 at the age of 99. His one-paragraph obituary in the Tampa Bay Times reveals no details about his life, and nothing about surviving family or paintings that remained in his estate. It does provide a grainy photograph of a frail looking man of advanced age, and credits him with organizing the first Greenwich Village art fair. If true, the year was 1931 and he might have exhibited alongside a struggling Jackson Pollack and Willem DeKooning, both of whom would achieve fame that eluded de Tirefort.
I recently had the painting cleaned hoping to bring out the colors, but de Tirefort’s tones were so muted that there wasn’t much difference. There were however hints of warm tones in the sky that might reflect fugitive colors that faded with exposure and the passage of decades.
One can only imagine who Bela de Tirefort was, where he lived, and what his life was like. Did he rent a drafty garret where he shivered through New York winters while laboring at his paintings? Did he struggle to buy food and new brushes? Did he live sparingly, allowing him to save enough money to retire comfortably in Florida, or did he suffer from poverty in his old age? How many other artists like him struggled for success in New York City but were forgotten? These are the questions I ponder while admiring de Tirefort’s skillful brush strokes – full of expression – that capture the Manhattan skyline of the 1940s.
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I just found two off his paintings on eBay.
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My father bought 4 paintings from him in the 50’s. I have 5 as I’ve added to the 2 I inherited. They’ve gone on every move we’ve made. Never realized what I had until my friend suggested I have them appraised. Totally shocked. Then, after my father in law died, we took a painting that no one wanted. A DETIREFORT! They both purchased his work! My dad bought in 40-50’s my FIL bought in 60’s. Totally different….palette knife, compared to brush in my older ones.
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We have a lovely DeTirefort (Washington Square scene) and have had it for close to 30 years. We used to be frequent shoppers at the old Tepper Gallery on E. 25th St. in Manhattan and we became familiar with DeTirefort’s work there. We plan to keep ours.
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Soooo many people are unaware that Bela had a sister that was also a painter, watercolors and more bright and modern than Bela’s..id love to share some photos but there’s no way to do that here. Im a resident of Saint Petersburg, a private duty nurse/caregiver. Thanks , trish barber
I just received one of his paintings from my neighbor. It is a simple forest scrape by a lake. She said her family knew him and it was gifted to them. She knew he painted in the city and was familiar with his background. She gave it to me to sell it at our rummage sale, but I decided to look into it. She is such a kind person, if it has value, then I want her to receive that value.
Hello I’d be very interested in hearing more about the neighbor, or better yet actually contacting her. I am a resident of Saint Petersburg and acquired a painting by Bela but also acquired alot of watercolors painted by his sister! Please relay my contact info: Oldstuffvintagestore@gmail.com. thanks, Trish Barber
elizabeth PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!! oldstuffvintagestore @gmail.com lola
I met Bela ,in Greenwich Village in the early fifties, with my sister-in-law. Being a young artist I could not afford his paintings, so he invited us up to his loft to view other paintings he had of New York.
One he was proud of was Central Park, which he framed himself.
Have have three of his original paintings , if you are interested?
I do not know if the paintings are on E-Bay.
They were painted in the early 60’s.
I just purchased a painting by de tirefort at a thrift shop in iowa. It’s unusual in its subject matter as it’s of the desert southwest. The signature matches up with your painting, this one is dated ’35.
Dear Patricia, I am curious about this mysterious artist and would appreciate any details about him or your contact with him. I too have 3 of his paintings but very little information. Thank you, Julie Olsen
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YES I AM VERY INTERSTED IN HEARING ABOUT THEM
I saw two of Bela’s original paintings at a local thrift store but unfortunately someone else beat me to them. Had a great conversation about the artworks with the older gentleman that found them, coincidentally it was from the year that he was born. If you still have the paintings, I would love to see photographs of them!
My father was good friends with Bela, and I have correspondence between them over many years as well as a single oil painting, a bleak, winter landscape.
I have not read much of it and don’t know how much information it contains about Bela’s life. My father would have known him in Greenwich Village, but much of the correspondence dates from his years in Florida.
That is truly fascinating! I would love to see the painting and know the contents of the correspondence. It might reveal life of an artist in NYC, and more about Bela’s personality.
Hi Jeff, Please let me know where I can find more about this mysterious artist Bela DeTireford. He deserves to be remembered and celebrated. Thank you, Julie Olsen
Dear Joel, Would it be possible to put your Bela deTirefort letters online as a record? They would be extremely interesting for many of us holding his paintings, since so little is known about him. Please tell me where I might find and read them. Thank you, Julie Olsen
I have a Bela de Tirefort painting titled “Banana gatherers P. R.” that is very different from his New York cityscapes. I think it night be a Puerto Rican scene and assume it was painted on his later years after he retired in Florida. Like you, I’ve found it difficult to find information or other examples of paintings like mine which is executed in vibrant colours.
Thanks for the note. I totally agree that there is minimal info available for this artist. Also, I have seen later paintings, also from his retirement in Florida. Those however in my view are not as soulful as his New York City work.
You don’t have to ponder how many artists are starving or shivering as they pursue their craft, just ask any artist today!