James Belton Bonsall
Encyclopedia
James Belton Bonsall was a painter who is usually associated with New Orleans, where he lived for many years. Bonsall experimented with contemporary styles, using oils, watercolor, acrylic, and pastels. He was born on the remote village of Grand Chenier, Louisiana, which sits atop a narrow ridge in southeastern Cameron Parish, separated from the world by the Mermentau River
and miles of marshlands. Farming, commercial fishing, and oil exploration were the mainstay of the community, and though Bonsall's father, James was a popular local figure, Belton just didn't seem to fit in. Among the few serious artists representing this French-speaking, coastal region, Bonsall’s interest in art was cultivated by his mother and younger sister, both school teachers and amateur painters. His father had been a farmer, peace officer, postman, and storekeeper, and was primarily interested in the outdoors (hunting, fishing, trapping). Bonsall’s sister, Connie, believed that Belton’s main interest in the outdoors was the collection of clay with which he practiced sculpture (indoors).
After high school, Bonsall moved to Lake Charles
, Louisiana, and was a student at McNeese State Junior College, now McNeese State University
, when he was drafted in 1944. He was assigned as a replacement to F Company, 393rd Regiment, 99th Infantry Division (United States) in the winter of 1944-1945. Bonsall served as rifleman and scout, and during the occupation used his language skills to interrogate German prisoners. After serving in the Occupation forces, he was discharged and returned to college to complete his studies in fine arts at Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge. He lived in California for some time, where he was employed as a newspaper reporter and painted sets for theater, television, and motion pictures. He became quite involved in acting, and attempted to break into motion pictures, though his only documented movie role was a minor part as a deputy in the film noir 'Damn Citizen' (he is depicted smashing slot machines in the promotional posters). He later returned to New Orleans and spent many years in the French Quarter
where he painted and worked in advertising, high fashion, and eventually social work.
Due to limited space in his French Quarter apartment, most of Bonsall’s paintings were kept at the family estate in Grand Chenier. In 1957, Hurricane Audrey
decimated this low lying area with a massive storm surge that took some 600 lives. The family home was set afloat with his parents and 15 refugees from the storm aboard. All survived, though significant damage was done, and many paintings were lost. The home was completely destroyed by Hurricane Rita
in 2005.
Paintings One example of Bonsall's painting style, 'Goddess of the Wind', was painted in 1947 and depicts a woman of brick against a stark scene with evidence of wind motion. The woman bears an unusual resemblance to Bonsall’s mother, Bernie Bonsall, who suffered from crippling arthritis. Restoration of this painting required removal of mud and grass fibers that were embedded under the stretcher boards since Hurricane Audrey
. Bonsall produced a variety of unusual images over the years, such as hollowed out shapes or the mirror image of a shapely nude that resembles a clove of garlic. Trees were a repeating theme as were various depictions of the nude figure and geometric shapes. Work from the 40's and 50's, Work from the 60's and 70's
Mermentau River
The Mermentau River is a river in southern Louisiana in the United States. It enters the Gulf of Mexico between Calcasieu Lake and Vermilion Bay on the Chenier Coastal Plain.The Mermentau River supplies freshwater for the Mermentau Basin...
and miles of marshlands. Farming, commercial fishing, and oil exploration were the mainstay of the community, and though Bonsall's father, James was a popular local figure, Belton just didn't seem to fit in. Among the few serious artists representing this French-speaking, coastal region, Bonsall’s interest in art was cultivated by his mother and younger sister, both school teachers and amateur painters. His father had been a farmer, peace officer, postman, and storekeeper, and was primarily interested in the outdoors (hunting, fishing, trapping). Bonsall’s sister, Connie, believed that Belton’s main interest in the outdoors was the collection of clay with which he practiced sculpture (indoors).
After high school, Bonsall moved to Lake Charles
Lake Charles
Lake Charles may refer to:in Canada*Lake Charles, Nova Scotia, a lake in the Halifax Regional Municipalityin the United States*Lake Charles, Louisiana, a city in the United States*Lake Charles , the lake after which it is named...
, Louisiana, and was a student at McNeese State Junior College, now McNeese State University
McNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
, when he was drafted in 1944. He was assigned as a replacement to F Company, 393rd Regiment, 99th Infantry Division (United States) in the winter of 1944-1945. Bonsall served as rifleman and scout, and during the occupation used his language skills to interrogate German prisoners. After serving in the Occupation forces, he was discharged and returned to college to complete his studies in fine arts at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge. He lived in California for some time, where he was employed as a newspaper reporter and painted sets for theater, television, and motion pictures. He became quite involved in acting, and attempted to break into motion pictures, though his only documented movie role was a minor part as a deputy in the film noir 'Damn Citizen' (he is depicted smashing slot machines in the promotional posters). He later returned to New Orleans and spent many years in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
where he painted and worked in advertising, high fashion, and eventually social work.
Due to limited space in his French Quarter apartment, most of Bonsall’s paintings were kept at the family estate in Grand Chenier. In 1957, Hurricane Audrey
Hurricane Audrey
Hurricane Audrey was the first major hurricane of the 1957 Atlantic hurricane season. Audrey was the only storm to reach Category 4 status in June. A powerful hurricane, Audrey caused catastrophic damage across eastern Texas and western Louisiana. It then affected the South Central United States as...
decimated this low lying area with a massive storm surge that took some 600 lives. The family home was set afloat with his parents and 15 refugees from the storm aboard. All survived, though significant damage was done, and many paintings were lost. The home was completely destroyed by Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
in 2005.
Hurricane Audrey
Hurricane Audrey was the first major hurricane of the 1957 Atlantic hurricane season. Audrey was the only storm to reach Category 4 status in June. A powerful hurricane, Audrey caused catastrophic damage across eastern Texas and western Louisiana. It then affected the South Central United States as...
. Bonsall produced a variety of unusual images over the years, such as hollowed out shapes or the mirror image of a shapely nude that resembles a clove of garlic. Trees were a repeating theme as were various depictions of the nude figure and geometric shapes. Work from the 40's and 50's, Work from the 60's and 70's