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for William Wendt
1865 - 1946
Wendt was apprenticed to a cabinet maker before moving to Chicago in 1880. He worked as a staff painter in a commercial art shop, and except for two terms at the Chicago Art Institute, he was largely self-taught. With the money from a prize won at the Chicago Society of Artists Exhibition in 1893, Wendt was able to begin his career as a painter.
Wendt may have lived in Dubuque, Iowa for two years before his first trip to California. From 1895-1897, the artist worked in California, spending 1896 with the painter George Gardner Symons. From 1898-1899, the two painters were together in England, in the region around Cornwall and St. Ives. After Wendt returned to the United States, he visited Santa Barbara and Montecito in 1900. Three years later, he was again in California. Wendt made a second European trip, tourring Germany, Holland and France.
By 1906, Wendt had settled permanently in Los Angeles, where he married the sculptor Julia Bracken, who had designed sculpture for the Woman's Building at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. Wendt was a founder and six term president of the California Art Club, beginning in 1909. By 1918, he built a second studio at Laguna Beach, California. He spent nine months in Europe in 1926, including three months in Germany with Symonds. After 1928, Wendt executed few paintings, as he suffered from arthritis in his hands. Wendt suffered a heart attack at the house of a friend, and died shortly after at his home.
Wendt may have lived in Dubuque, Iowa for two years before his first trip to California. From 1895-1897, the artist worked in California, spending 1896 with the painter George Gardner Symons. From 1898-1899, the two painters were together in England, in the region around Cornwall and St. Ives. After Wendt returned to the United States, he visited Santa Barbara and Montecito in 1900. Three years later, he was again in California. Wendt made a second European trip, tourring Germany, Holland and France.
By 1906, Wendt had settled permanently in Los Angeles, where he married the sculptor Julia Bracken, who had designed sculpture for the Woman's Building at the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition. Wendt was a founder and six term president of the California Art Club, beginning in 1909. By 1918, he built a second studio at Laguna Beach, California. He spent nine months in Europe in 1926, including three months in Germany with Symonds. After 1928, Wendt executed few paintings, as he suffered from arthritis in his hands. Wendt suffered a heart attack at the house of a friend, and died shortly after at his home.
