American, 1869 - 1966
After attending the Marietta Academy, Wells Bosworth entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1889. Remaining in Boston, Bosworth started his career in architecture working for the firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge; Frederick Law Olmstead; and William Rotch Ware. Following a trip to Europe with Ware, the young architect began his own practice in Boston. To supplement his income he also did pen and ink illustrations for publications including American Architect. Bosworth returned to Europe to study with Sir Lawrence AlmaÄTadema in London, and then in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
On his return to America in 1900, Bosworth worked briefly in the office of Carriere and Hastings in New York, before he was named resident architect for the Pan American Exposition, held in Buffalo in 1901. Following this project, Bosworth establishing his own firm in New York, which became extremely successful, receiving commissions for public as well as private buildings. Perhaps his most notable undertaking during this period was supervision of the construction of John D. Rockefeller's home, completed in 1906, the first unit on the 5,000 acre complex on the east bank of the Hudson River at Pocantico Hills.
Before retiring from active practice in 1924, Bosworth had completed numerous commissions, principal among them were the American Telephone and Telegraph Company Building in New York, and a group of buildings at M.I.T.
After World War I he moved to Paris to become general secreatary and architect of the restoration of the Chateaux and gardens of Versailles and Fontainbleau, funded by the family of John D. Rockefeller. He also supervised the restoration of the Cathedral of Rheims. Bosworth returned to the United States, living in Locust Valley, Long Island, New York, for the duration of World War II, but by 1948, had returned to France, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Bosworth is exceptional in the annals of the National Academy in that, although an architect by profession and elected to membership in that classification, his NA diploma presentation is a landscape painting in watercolor.
On his return to America in 1900, Bosworth worked briefly in the office of Carriere and Hastings in New York, before he was named resident architect for the Pan American Exposition, held in Buffalo in 1901. Following this project, Bosworth establishing his own firm in New York, which became extremely successful, receiving commissions for public as well as private buildings. Perhaps his most notable undertaking during this period was supervision of the construction of John D. Rockefeller's home, completed in 1906, the first unit on the 5,000 acre complex on the east bank of the Hudson River at Pocantico Hills.
Before retiring from active practice in 1924, Bosworth had completed numerous commissions, principal among them were the American Telephone and Telegraph Company Building in New York, and a group of buildings at M.I.T.
After World War I he moved to Paris to become general secreatary and architect of the restoration of the Chateaux and gardens of Versailles and Fontainbleau, funded by the family of John D. Rockefeller. He also supervised the restoration of the Cathedral of Rheims. Bosworth returned to the United States, living in Locust Valley, Long Island, New York, for the duration of World War II, but by 1948, had returned to France, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Bosworth is exceptional in the annals of the National Academy in that, although an architect by profession and elected to membership in that classification, his NA diploma presentation is a landscape painting in watercolor.
