1858 - 1920
At age fifteen, William T. Smedley left school to begin a career in printing and illustrating. His first work was in the office of the West Chester Daily Local News, but several years later he moved to Philadelphia. There he obtained a post at the printing firm of Crosscup and West, studying in the evenings at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts with Thomas Eakins. By 1879, Smedley had moved to New York, where he began to rise through the ranks of periodical illustrators. He ultimately became extremely successful with his black-and-white drawings of upper-class social life.
In 1882 Smedley was elected to the Society of American Artists. The same year, he traveled through the Canadian Rockies to execute illustrations for a publication entitled "Picturesque Canada." Four years later, he received a similar commission for drawing to appear in "Picturesque Australia." Smedley began a trip around the world which took him to Australia, New Zealand, India, North Africa, and Europe. It was at this time that he probably studied with Jean-Paul Laurens in Paris.
Smedley married May R. Darling in 1892. By the end of that decade, he had decided to focus on Oil painting rather than illustration. He launched his late career as a portraitist and became successful by depicting the same wealthy individuals who were formerly the subjects of his drawings. His efforts were recognized by the Academy when it awarded him the Proctor Prize in 1906, the Carnegie Prize in 1907, and the Isaac N. Maynard Prize in 1916. Smedley served on the NAD Council for two years beginning in 1918. In addition to his career as a portraitist, he executed decorations for the court house in Wilkes Barre, PA and occasionally published his writings on art.
In 1882 Smedley was elected to the Society of American Artists. The same year, he traveled through the Canadian Rockies to execute illustrations for a publication entitled "Picturesque Canada." Four years later, he received a similar commission for drawing to appear in "Picturesque Australia." Smedley began a trip around the world which took him to Australia, New Zealand, India, North Africa, and Europe. It was at this time that he probably studied with Jean-Paul Laurens in Paris.
Smedley married May R. Darling in 1892. By the end of that decade, he had decided to focus on Oil painting rather than illustration. He launched his late career as a portraitist and became successful by depicting the same wealthy individuals who were formerly the subjects of his drawings. His efforts were recognized by the Academy when it awarded him the Proctor Prize in 1906, the Carnegie Prize in 1907, and the Isaac N. Maynard Prize in 1916. Smedley served on the NAD Council for two years beginning in 1918. In addition to his career as a portraitist, he executed decorations for the court house in Wilkes Barre, PA and occasionally published his writings on art.
