Biography

Lajos (Louis) Jambor was a Hungarian-American artist known for his religious illustrations, with his murals embellishing the walls of churches, public buildings, and private residences alike. Jambor’s Post-Impressionistic style of painting utilized soft colors and a masterful approach to light and shade on his canvases—his landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and pastoral scenes complimented his commercial illustration. Born on August 1, 1884,​ in Nagyvárad, Hungary, Jambor studied in Budapest at the Royal Art Academy and traveled abroad to Italy and Germany to further his education. He emigrated to the United States in 1922. Before his death on June 11, 1954, Jambor created the popular image for the cover of the 1947 edition of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women, which remains one of his best-known and most widely reproduced works.