Lumen Martin Winter, “Burgomeester’s Joke”, Large Oil Painting, Early 1950s

A large and lively early 1950s framed oil painting on canvas titled “Burgomeester’s Joke” by important multi-disciplinary American artist Lumen Martin Winter (b. December 12, 1908 — April 5, 1982).

Colorful and comically chaotic scene appears to be set in a 17th century Dutch town square surrounded by handsome stone buildings, though a plaque affixed to the frame that we’ll describe later—as well as other paintings from this series—suggests that it could be set in the Dutch settlement of New Netherland, which would later become the US states of New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

A group gathered around a table in the shade of a large tree react uproariously to the titular “burgomeester’s” joke—more commonly spelled “burgemeester” in Dutch, and “burgomaster” in English—with a couple of them in the middle of being literally knocked off their airborne stools, and a third fully laid out at the feet of a perplexed young pup. A fair-haired and fetching milkmaid approaches the group with a yoke upon her shoulders, looking a bit less amused by the mayor’s joke and the men’s raucous reactions.

The impressive size, bright and saturated color palette, highly animated Disney-like visual style, and historical Dutch-themed subject matter are all hallmarks of Winter’s best work of this type from this period, and combine to delightful effect in an eye-catching painting that’s sure to bring an infectious smile to one’s face. Now, if only we’d arrived in time to hear the punchline…

Signed “Lumen Winter” at lower right. Presented in its original cerused, hand-carved, and painted wood frame with ecru linen inner trim. A brass plaque at bottom reads “Burgomeester’s Joke — (Knickerbocker’s History of New York) — The Jacob Ruppert Collection, N.Y. City. Verso has “#3” written on frame and paper board backing, suggesting its place in the series. Also written on verso is “Frame by Bernard Walsh / 37 W. 26th St. NYC LE 2 9484”.

It’s the brass plaque’s reference to the book “Knickerbocker’s History of New York” that has us surmising that the scene might be set Stateside rather than in Holland. Originally titled “A History of New York, from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty”, this satirical novel was written by Washington Irving and published in 1809 under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. It’s likely that a tale from this work inspired the painting’s subject matter and title.

Of further interest is the painting’s former inclusion in The Jacob Ruppert Collection, which lends it some additional cachet. Jacob Ruppert, Sr. was a notable brewer in turn-of-the-century New York, and his son, Jacob Ruppert, Jr., was an important brewer, businessman, and politician who represented New York in the United States House of Representatives for four terms, and owned the New York Yankees from 1915 until his death in 1939.

Lumen Martin Winter was a quintessentially American artist—born and raised in the rural Midwest, lauded in New York and D.C., and yet always true to his roots—whose skills in painting, sculpture, and works on paper drew great acclaim throughout his life and career, though he preferred to keep a low profile while focusing on his craft. He felt most at home documenting the rustic landscapes, flora, and fauna of the American Southwest, though he’s perhaps best known and celebrated for the more than fifty important, impressive, and lasting pubic murals and sculptural works that he completed across the United States and Italy.

His American murals include early projects commissioned through President Roosevelt’s New Deal initiative for the WPA during the 1930s and 1940s; a striking reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” that now resides in the South Dining Hall at the University of Notre Dame, and required more than 400 hundred pounds of paint to complete; a monumental 51-foot-long glass mosaic commissioned by the AFL-CIO in 1951 for the lobby of their new Washington, D.C. headquarters; and other notable works on display at the United Nations General Assembly, the National Wildlife Federation Building, the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, and in the Kansas State Capitol on the second floor rotunda.

Dimensions overall including the frame.
Height: 40.75 in Width: 50.5 in Depth: 2.5 in
Art is H 30 in. x W 40 in. x .63 in. Sight is H 29.75 in. x W 39.5 in.

Condition: Good
Wear consistent with age and use. Art: very good vintage condition for its age; a few small marks/scratches at upper left and right corners. Frame: small chip at lower right, and a couple marks elsewhere; linen frayed at lower left; slight gap between canvas and trim at lower left.