Born in Codroipo, a small village only a few miles from Venice, Italy in 1905, the son of a stonemason. Bosa emigrated to the U.S. at age 18 after studies at the Accademia della Belle Arti in Venice and became an American citizen. He then studied under John Sloan, of the Ashcan School, at the Art Students League in New York. A distinguished painter, Louis Bosa's work has been likened to that of artists ranging from Pieter Breughel the Elder to John Sloan and the Ashcan School.


Being an acute observer of the human condition, Bosa's paintings, which are primarily oil on canvas, often focus on people and street scenes from his native Italy. Bosa was known to have followed his subjects around, making many sketches and mental notes, and combined his observations in the final work to create visionary, fantastical images. The subjects of his paintings are highly stylized and expressionistic, and border on caricature. "People are so funny at times they are sad," he said: The people in his paintings are accessible and seem to portray human emotion and everyday life, conquering such concepts as mortality, humility and sometimes futility. His work often reveals comedy in the midst of tragedy. Many of his paintings include whimsical images of nuns riding bicycles and similar authority figures engaged in mundane activities.


He traveled extensively through Europe and often returned to his native Italy. Bosa painted for the Works Progress Administration and the Whitney Museum. He taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art, the New York Art Students League, the Parsons School of Design, Syracuse University, and the University of Notre Dame at South Bend, Indiana. His paintings and watercolors are on display at many well-known art studios and museums across the United States such as:


The Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York
The Whitney Museum - New York
The Philadelphia Museum - Pennsylvania
The Worcester Museum - Massachusetts
The Springfield Museum - Massachusetts
The Toronto Art Museum - Canada
Notre Dame University Museum
The Butler Museum - Ohio
The Columbus Museum of Arts and Crafts - Ohio
The University of Illinois - Illinois
The Montclair Museum - New Jersey
The James A. Michener Art Museum - Doylestown, Pennsylvania
The Clearwater Museum - Florida
The Wilmington Museum - Delaware
The Athenian Museum - Connecticut
The Herron Art Institute - Indiana
The Rochester Museum - New York
The Delgado Museum - New Orleans
The Richmond Art Museum - Virginia
The Academy of Arts and Letters
The Hosanna Fund
The Encyclopedia Britannica Collections
International Business Machines
The Syracuse Museum - New York

Photograph of Louis Bosa

Works by Louis Bosa

Sun Down by Louis Bosa

Sun Down Louis Bosa

Landscape Oil on Canvas Painting:

Bucks County, 1934 Louis Bosa

Landscape Oil on Canvas Painting:

Two Wagons, Bucks County, PA, 1934 Louis Bosa

Skinny Dippers by Louis Bosa

Skinny Dippers Louis Bosa

The Beach by Louis Bosa

The Beach Louis Bosa

The Serenade by Louis Bosa

The Serenade, c. 1950 Louis Bosa

Misericordia by Louis Bosa

Misericordia Louis Bosa

Fishing Wharf Rockport by Louis Bosa

Fishing Wharf Rockport Louis Bosa

The Onlooker by Louis Bosa

The Onlooker, 1952 Louis Bosa

Figurative Landscape Oil on Masonite Painting:

Island of the Monks, c. 1960 Louis Bosa

The Artist as Christ by Louis Bosa

The Artist as Christ, 1960 Louis Bosa

Whimsical Cocktail Sketch by Louis Bosa

Whimsical Cocktail Sketch, ca. 1960 Louis Bosa

Cathedral in Venice by Louis Bosa

Cathedral in Venice Louis Bosa

Flood in Venice by Louis Bosa

Flood in Venice, c. 1970 Louis Bosa

Figurative Red Ink on Paper Drawing:

Fancy Dress Party, c.1945 Louis Bosa

Figurative Gouache on Paper Painting:

Masquerade Louis Bosa

Abstract Animal Figural Watercolor and Ink on Paper Drawing:

Fantasy Flight of a Bird with two Children Louis Bosa

View from the Plaza by Louis Bosa

SOLD

View from the Plaza, 1945 Louis Bosa

Skiing Priests by Louis Bosa

SOLD

Skiing Priests Louis Bosa

Horse Cart in Snow, Central Park, New York by Louis Bosa

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Horse Cart in Snow, Central Park, New York Louis Bosa

Woman Raking in a Yard with Church Spire and Dome by Louis Bosa

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Woman Raking in a Yard with Church Spire and Dome Louis Bosa

New York City Street Scenes by Louis Bosa

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New York City Street Scenes, 1930 Louis Bosa

Coney Island by Louis Bosa

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Coney Island, ca. 1930 Louis Bosa

Lunch Break by Louis Bosa

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Lunch Break Louis Bosa

Cabin in Snow, Bucks County, Pennsylvania by Louis Bosa

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Cabin in Snow, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 1934 Louis Bosa

Rail Scenes, New York City by Louis Bosa

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Rail Scenes, New York City, 1934 Louis Bosa

Rooftops, New York City by Louis Bosa

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Rooftops, New York City, 1934 Louis Bosa

Skaters by Louis Bosa

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Skaters, c. 1935 Louis Bosa

Evening on the North River by Louis Bosa

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Evening on the North River, 1943 Louis Bosa

Snow Storm, New York City by Louis Bosa

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Snow Storm, New York City, c. 1944 Louis Bosa

Lower Eastside, NYC by Louis Bosa

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Lower Eastside, NYC, c.1945 Louis Bosa

Dinner for One by Louis Bosa

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Dinner for One Louis Bosa

Fish and a Martini by Louis Bosa

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Fish and a Martini Louis Bosa

Top Hat Gentleman and Lady by Louis Bosa

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Top Hat Gentleman and Lady Louis Bosa

Monkey Business by Louis Bosa

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Monkey Business, 1948 Louis Bosa

Procession of Friars by Louis Bosa

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Procession of Friars, c.1950 Louis Bosa

Bullfight by Louis Bosa

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Bullfight, 1950 Louis Bosa

Self Portrait I by Louis Bosa

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Self Portrait I Louis Bosa

Watching the Game by Louis Bosa

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Watching the Game Louis Bosa

Still Life of Flowers by Louis Bosa

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Still Life of Flowers, c.1950 Louis Bosa

Riviera by Louis Bosa

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Riviera Louis Bosa

Figurative Oil on Masonite Painting:

SOLD

Costume Party Scene Louis Bosa

Cardinal and Clerks by Louis Bosa

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Cardinal and Clerks Louis Bosa

Three Flying Figures by Louis Bosa

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Three Flying Figures Louis Bosa

Courtyard in Venice by Louis Bosa

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Courtyard in Venice, 1951 Louis Bosa

Cafe Piccolo by Louis Bosa

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Cafe Piccolo, c. 1951 Louis Bosa

Figurative Oil on Panel Painting:

SOLD

Harlequin Louis Bosa

Landscape Oil on Canvas Painting:

SOLD

San Barnaba, c.1951 Louis Bosa

Cocktails for Two, Grand Canal, Venice by Louis Bosa

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Cocktails for Two, Grand Canal, Venice, 1951 Louis Bosa

An Evening Prayer by Louis Bosa

SOLD

An Evening Prayer, 1952 Louis Bosa

Figurative Gouache on Paper Painting:

SOLD

Skiing Nuns Louis Bosa

Figurative Oil on Panel Painting:

SOLD

Flying Nuns Louis Bosa

Monks Clowning by Louis Bosa

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Monks Clowning, c. 1960 Louis Bosa

The Graceful Monk by Louis Bosa

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The Graceful Monk, 1963 Louis Bosa

Louis Bosa, In the Brothel by Louis Bosa

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Louis Bosa, In the Brothel Louis Bosa

Sunday Afternoon by Louis Bosa

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Sunday Afternoon, c.1945 Louis Bosa

The Good Festival of Easter by Louis Bosa

SOLD

The Good Festival of Easter, c.1945 Louis Bosa

Drawing Class by Louis Bosa

SOLD

Drawing Class, 1961 Louis Bosa