Michigan landscape by Ludwig L. Blake (1870-1957) had a couple tears that were more of a challenge to repair due to the deteriorated canvas. The painting dates from 1948.
Blake is best known for his “Blake Gardens,” near Roseland, Indiana. The property was originally known as “The Pie House,” a favorite among Notre Dame students. After twenty years of landscaping—diverting one creek, constructing several bridges, benches, and railings, and planting 1,000 pine seedlings—the gardens became a popular spot for poetry readings, classical concerts and weddings; as well as an ideal subject for painting.
South Bend Tribune: Throwback Thursday: When people flocked to pastoral Blake Gardens near Roseland
Thank you for this insight into my great Uncle Lud’s artistic history. He was my dad’s mom’s brother. My grandmother, Elise Olsen, was also an artist. I have several of her original oils and water colors as well as Uncle Lud’s oils of his beautiful gardens in South Bebd, Indiana. I cherish them and will pass them on to my children.
Dear Karen Holt,
I’m not sure if you’ll get this, but I thought I’d try. I have a couple of paintings by a relative called Lud Blake. I don’t think he was as old as the Ludwig Blake mentioned here, but maybe I’m wrong about that. I believe he was from Indiana. The art does look a bit like the picture here, and the signature looks very similar. They are both landscapes, but one is oil and the other is a water color. My understanding was always that Lud Blake was a relative of my maternal grandmother, Nathalie Dyrnes (Olson). Her mother was Anna Larson Blake, but she died when my grandmother was very young. Anyway, I’m just trying to learn more about Lud Blake and my paintings — if this gets to you, I’d be glad to know more!
Hi Adam, This is Kari Miller who restored the Blake. This is my website as a conservator, restorer and art historian. Karen Holt was my client and the owner of the picture. Please send any photographs of the paintings you have. I will contact Karen and let her know.
Best,
Kari