1844 - 1935
Weldon was educated at a military academy, the Cleveland Institute, before moving to Philadelphia at age 18 to work at a financial firm, Painter and Co. He then spent a year in Iowa City opening a hat and fur store. Weldon's first artistic job was in Chicago where he executed lithographic illustrations. He continued his work in illustration at the New York Daily Graphic. A brief leave of absence brought him to London to study at Leigh's Academy, but lack of money forced him back to his job at the Graphic. He then made a second trip to Europe around 1880, spending two years in Paris under Mih ly Munk csy.
Returning to New York, Weldon began to paint, ultimately working in portraiture, genre, landscape, still life, and mural decorations. A commission from Harper's sent him to Japan in the early 1890s; he remained some five years there. When he returned, Japanese objects and scenes appeared in his work, and he became a dealer in Japanese prints. He also visited China and, at a later date, India.
At the Academy, Weldon served on the Council for two years beginning in 1898. Although he painted infrequently after 1920, he did take on restoration work for the NAD, probably conserving Edwin Austin Abbey's diploma work soon after it arrived in 1922 and restoring five portraits in 1925. He died at his summer home.
Returning to New York, Weldon began to paint, ultimately working in portraiture, genre, landscape, still life, and mural decorations. A commission from Harper's sent him to Japan in the early 1890s; he remained some five years there. When he returned, Japanese objects and scenes appeared in his work, and he became a dealer in Japanese prints. He also visited China and, at a later date, India.
At the Academy, Weldon served on the Council for two years beginning in 1898. Although he painted infrequently after 1920, he did take on restoration work for the NAD, probably conserving Edwin Austin Abbey's diploma work soon after it arrived in 1922 and restoring five portraits in 1925. He died at his summer home.
