U.S. Courthouse: Labaudt Paintings – Los Angeles CA

Description

Lucien Labaudt painted two large-scale paintings for what was then the Los Angeles Post Office and Courthouse, “Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos” (1939), and “Aerodynamism” (1941). Both were removed when the post office moved out of the building in 1965, but were restored to the courthouse in 1993.

“Aerodynamism” is a 256 square foot oil on canvas on the ceiling. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993.

The 8′ x 14′ “Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos” is in the Spring Street lobby. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993. The informational plaque for the painting describes it as follows: “The Fine Arts Section of the U.S. Department of the Treasury commissioned this oil on canvas 14′ x 8′ mural by Lucien Labaudt (1880-1943) in 1937. An old map of the Spanish and Mexican ranches of early Los Angeles serves as a backdrop of the mural illustrating the city’s birth and early history. Depicted on the left is the legendary sale of a large part of the city of American settlers for a barrel of wine, some groceries, and two hundred dollars. The deed of sale is being signed on the wine barrel. On the right is depicted Native Americans with water vessels and Mexican farmers with livestock, representing the typical lifestyle on the early ranches….”