Abraham Bogdanove

Who was Abraham Bogdanove?

Abraham Jacob Bogdanove was an American artist, mural painter, and teacher best known for his seascape paintings of the Maine coast, particularly around Monhegan Island.

Bogdanove was born in Minsk, On September 2, 1888, and moved with his family to New York City on December 25, 1900. For the next ten years he studied, first at Cooper Union, then at the National Academy of Design, and finally at Columbia University School of Architecture, while simultaneously painting advertisement displays and drafting for the New York Journal. From 1909 to 1911 he received prizes for his paintings in National Academy exhibitions.

In 1911, Young Bogdanove was commissioned to paint a mural of "Diana in the Bath" for the Fleischman Baths at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue. He later took Fleischman to court because Fleischman renegged on the $90 fee and offered bath tickets in lieu of payment, stating that Bogdanove's Diana was not beautiful enough, and that the artist spent more time looking at scantily clad women than he did painting. Bogdanove was awarded $75.

In 1912 Bogdanove received his second mural commission from the Hebrew Sheltering and Guardian Society in Pleasantville, New York; subsequently he painted murals for the Architectural League of New York, Commercial High School, Brooklyn, Manual Training High School, Brooklyn, Public School 43, Bronx, and the College of the City of New York.