1868-1943
The son of a prominent steel manufacturer, William Singer worked in the family business before deciding upon an artistic career. After two works were shown in the Carnegie International Exhibition in Pittsburgh in 1900, Singer was so encouraged that he traveled abroad to study painting.
Singer sailed for Paris with his wife of five years, Anna Brugh Singer, and the Norwegian painter Martin Borgord. Following several months at the Academie Julian, he began a brief period in the atelier of JeanÄPaul Laurens. By spring, Singer had joined the artist's colony at Laren, Holland. There, he established a close friendship with Jacob Dooijewaard, a Dutch landscape painter and portraitist.
1904 was the first summer Singer was in Norway, spending time at Gjende in Jotunheimen with Borgord. Although he returned to the United States in 1907, working at Old Lyme and New York, by 1908 Singer returned to Europe with the painter Walter Griffin.
By 1914, Singer had built a home and studio in Olden, Norway, a remote fishing village in the nordfjord that he had first visited the previous year. He planned to spend summers in Olden and winters in Holland, but the outbreak of World War II prevented his return to Holland. Singer found the scenic winter landscape of Olden so inspirational, he decided to remain permanently. The mountaneous fjord region depicted in various moods and weather conditions became Singer's major subject.
Although in the following years he returned to the United
States only twice, in 1917 and again in 1927, Singer was well respected in the art community in this country. In 1928, a collection of his work was donated to the the art museum in Hagerstown, Maryland, which became the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Singer was, however, best known in Norway and Belgium. In 1929, King Haakon of Norway awarded Singer the Commander Cross and Star of the Royal Order of St. Olaf. Two years later, King Albert of Belgium bestowed the Decoration of the Chevalier of the Order of Leopold.
Singer sailed for Paris with his wife of five years, Anna Brugh Singer, and the Norwegian painter Martin Borgord. Following several months at the Academie Julian, he began a brief period in the atelier of JeanÄPaul Laurens. By spring, Singer had joined the artist's colony at Laren, Holland. There, he established a close friendship with Jacob Dooijewaard, a Dutch landscape painter and portraitist.
1904 was the first summer Singer was in Norway, spending time at Gjende in Jotunheimen with Borgord. Although he returned to the United States in 1907, working at Old Lyme and New York, by 1908 Singer returned to Europe with the painter Walter Griffin.
By 1914, Singer had built a home and studio in Olden, Norway, a remote fishing village in the nordfjord that he had first visited the previous year. He planned to spend summers in Olden and winters in Holland, but the outbreak of World War II prevented his return to Holland. Singer found the scenic winter landscape of Olden so inspirational, he decided to remain permanently. The mountaneous fjord region depicted in various moods and weather conditions became Singer's major subject.
Although in the following years he returned to the United
States only twice, in 1917 and again in 1927, Singer was well respected in the art community in this country. In 1928, a collection of his work was donated to the the art museum in Hagerstown, Maryland, which became the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Singer was, however, best known in Norway and Belgium. In 1929, King Haakon of Norway awarded Singer the Commander Cross and Star of the Royal Order of St. Olaf. Two years later, King Albert of Belgium bestowed the Decoration of the Chevalier of the Order of Leopold.
