This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  A painter with a long and productive career, Leon Dabo was known for
his atmospheric, tonalist paintings, especially of the Hudson and East
rivers in New York City in early morning and sunset times of
day---"silent, introspective times of day that appealed to the Tonalist
sensibility. . . he emphasized gentle nuances of light and
atmosphere, luminous color effects, and an innovative handling of
space". (Lowrey 124) Dabo also painted floral still lifes,
and in the 1920s became a lecturer on art education and on specific
artists including John La Farge and James Whistler.
Newly discovered research, verified by scholars at the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, has shown that Leon Dabo was born in France in 1865 and
not as previously thought in Detroit in 1868. His father
was Ignace Scott, an artist specializing in architectural
decoration. Dabo grew up in Detroit, Michigan, and was an
apprentice to his father before going to New York City, where he worked
for J. & R. Lamb studios and associated with John La Farge, painter
and muralist.
In 1886, Dabo went to Paris where, using letters of introduction
provided by La Farge, met leading artists. He studied with Daniel
Vierge and Pierre Galland, and at the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs,
Academie Julian and the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He also went to
Italy and London, where it is thought he spent time with James Mc Neill
Whistler in his studio. In subsequent paintings, Dabo
reflected Whistler's influence including his philosophy of 'art for
art's sake', his tonalist style, and his use of a monogram as a
signature. Dabo later considered himself an expert on
documenting Whistler's paintings, as did others, and Dabo became
an authenticator and published writer work by Whistler.
In 1892, Dabo returned to New York City. He took up his former
career of architectural decorator and muralist of public and religious
buildings. He also painted river scenes, initially working in an
inhibited-seeming academic manner but then loosening up in what was
then regarded as modernist influences. Among those artists
whose work had an effect on him in addition to Whistler were French
Impressionists and Japanese painters such as Hiroshige and
Hokusai.
Dabo's painting career ascended in 1905, when
the National Arts Club, of which he was a member, sponsored a solo
exhibition of his work, which critics generally praised and which
brought him public attention. Prominent collector and
Tonalist enthusiast William T. Evans purchased some of Dabo's
paintings, which conveyed special distinction. In 1910, he
participated in the "Independents" exhibit organized by The Eight in
New York City, and in 1913, as a member of The Society of Painters and
Sculptors, was one of the principle organizers of the New York City
Armory Show that introduced modernist art from Europe to the United
States.
He was a member of the National Academy of Design, Scholastic Art
League and Brooklyn Society of Artists. In 1917, Dabo was
commissioned and sent to France in the A.E.F. Corps of
Interpreters. In France he also received the Chevalier Legion of
Honor award.
Dabo lectured on art at the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, and at Columbia University in the 1920s, and in 1933 exhibited his
flower painting and pastels at Knoedler Gallery, New York. The New York Times
in its review stated that these paintings were "a distinct contribution
to be associated with the flower harmonies of Odilon Redon and of
Fantin-Latour." (Falk)
In 1944 in his 79th year, Dabo was
elected full Academician of The National Academy of Design.
He painted until his ninetieth year, and in 1960 died in New York City
on November 7th.
Sources:
Carol Lowrey, 'Leon Dabo', The Poetic Vision: American Tonalism, p. 124
Peter Falk, Who Was Who in American Art, p. 808
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Leon Dabo is also mentioned in these AskART essays:
New York Armory Show of 1913
San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition 1915
Tonalism
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