America's Distinguished Artists: last names beginning with Wha-Wiz continued

America's Distinguished Artists

a national registry of historic artists

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Deceased American artists and artisans of note who created representational art are indexed in this catalogue by last name in alphabetical order. There are references to Resource Library texts and those from other sites. Click on letters below to access the alphabetical index.

Page 2 of Wha-Wiz

Max Wieczorek from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Max Wieczorek from California Watercolor Gallery

Gustave Adolph Wiegand from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Gustave Adolph Wiegand from Antiques and Fine Art Magazine

Olaf Wieghorst from Resource Library article (dedicated solely to this artist)

William Wiessler from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author)

Adeline Albright Wigand from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Adeline Albright Wigand from SILive.com

Otto Charles Wigand from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Otto Wigand from SILive.com

Carleton Wiggins from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Carlton Wiggens from Florence Griswold Museum

Guy Carlton Wiggins from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Guy Carlton Wiggins from Wally Findlay Galleries International, Inc.

Myra Albert Wiggins from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Myra Albert Wiggins from Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission

Sidney M. Wiggins from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist

Frederick S. Wight from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Frederick S. Wight from UC Libraries

Frank Nelson Wilcox from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Frank Nelson Wilcox from Wikipedia

Theo Wildanger from Resource Library essay (dedicated solely to this artist by a named author)

John Wilde from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see John Wilde from Wikipedia

Irving Ramsey Wiles from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Irving Ramsey Wiles from Questroyal Fine Art

(above: Irving Ramsay Wiles, The Sonata, 1869, 44.25 x 26 inches, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Lemuel Maynard Wiles from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Lemuel Maynard Wiles from Questroyal Fine Art LLC

Catherine Wiley from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Anna Catherine Wiley from Wikipedia

Paintings by Catherine Wiley

Edith Lake Wilkinson from Resource Library article (dedicated solely to this artist) also see Edith Lake Wilkinson from Cape Cod Wavedebora

August Will from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see August Will from Wikipedia

Archibald Willard from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Archibald Willard from Wikipedia

Jessie Willard from Resource Library biography dedicated to this artist by a named author

Edward K. Williams from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Edward K. Williams from Edward K. Williams: Home Page

Esther Williams from Resource Library essay (dedicated solely to this artist by a named author)

Frederick Ballard Williams from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Frederick Ballard Williams from Pierce Galleries

Virgil Macey Williams from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist)

(above: Virgil Williams, Knight's Valley from the Slopes of Mount St. Helena, 1873, oil on canvas, De Young Museum. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Virgil Macey Williams (1830-1886) was a significant figure in the 19th-century American art scene, known for his contributions both as an artist and as an educator. Williams painted landscapes that captured the serene beauty of California's diverse natural environments. His works often depicted the undulating hills, lush valleys, and expansive views of the West Coast, characterized by a delicate attention to light and atmosphere.

Williams was a prominent member of the Bohemian Club in San Francisco, a group that included many notable artists of the time. The club fostered a supportive community for artists, musicians, and writers, allowing them to share their work and ideas freely. This environment was crucial for Williams, as it provided him with both inspiration and a platform to exhibit his work.

Williams' paintings were deeply influenced by the natural beauty of California, particularly the landscapes around San Francisco and the Napa Valley. One of his notable works, "Knight's Valley from the Slopes of Mount St. Helena" (1873), showcases his ability to capture the grandeur and tranquility of the region's landscapes. The painting exemplifies his California Impressionist skill in rendering light and shadow to create a sense of depth and realism, while also highlighting the vibrant colors and textures of the natural scenery.

His decision to focus on landscapes was driven by a combination of personal passion and the artistic trends of the time. The mid-19th century saw a growing appreciation for the American wilderness, influenced by the Romantic movement which celebrated the sublime beauty and grandeur of nature. Williams' work resonated with this cultural shift, as he sought to immortalize the untouched beauty of California's landscapes on canvas.

In addition to his work as a painter, Williams was also a respected educator. He taught at the California School of Design (now the San Francisco Art Institute), where he influenced a generation of artists with his teachings and mentorship. His approach to art education emphasized the importance of direct observation from nature, encouraging students to study the landscape firsthand to truly capture its essence in their work.

Williams' dual role as an artist and teacher significantly impacted the development of art in California. By sharing his techniques and philosophy with his students, he helped to cultivate a distinctive style that blended realism with a deep appreciation for the natural world. His legacy lives on through the works of his students and the continued admiration for his landscapes, which remain celebrated for their beauty and technical skill.

Overall, Virgil Macey Williams painted California's landscapes not just to document their beauty but to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world. His work reflects a harmonious blend of artistic skill and a profound connection to the environment, capturing the essence of California's scenic vistas for future generations to admire.

The preceding brief essay was generated by AI mainly from our texts published online and edited in July 2024.

Clara McDonald Williamson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Clara McDonald Williamson from Texas State Historical Association

(above: Clara Mcdonald Williamson, Get Along Little Dogies, 1945, oil on canvas, 26.75 x 39.75 inches, Dallas Museum of Art. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

John Williamson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see John Williamson from Questroyal Fine Art, LLC.

Shirley Williamson from Resource Library biography dedicated to this artist by a named author

J. R. Willis from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Joseph Roy Willis from J. Mark Sublette, Medicine Man Gallery, Inc.

Lemuel Everett Wilmarth from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Lemuel Everett Wilmarth from Wikipedia

Aaron Augustus "Gus" Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Augustus Aaron "Gus" Wilson from Smithsonian American Art Museum

Alexander Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Alexander Wilson from Wikipedia

Edward Arthur Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Edward Wilson from Archives West

Ellen Axson Wilson from Resource Library article (dedicated solely to this artist) also see Ellen Axson Wilson from Wikipedia

Ellis Wilson from Resource Library article (dedicated solely to this artist)

Elsie Jim Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist)

Frederick Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist)

Gilbert Brown Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also Gilbert Brown Wilson from Wikipedia

James Perry Wilson from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see James Perry Wilson from Wikipedia

Joseph Wilson from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author)

Robert Burns Wilson from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Robert Burns Wilson from Wikipedia

Sol Wilson from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also Sol Wilson from RIT Libraries, Rochester Institute of Technology

Richard Wilt from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Richard Wilt from Ann Arbor News

Carl Wimar from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Carl Wimar (Karl Ferdinand Wimar, Charles Wimar) from Wikipedia

(above: Karl Ferdinand Wimar, Buffalo Drinking, c. 1861-1862, oil on canvas, Phoenix Art Museum, Museum purchase in memory of Mr. Roy Wayland, 1964.264. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Fannie R. Winchell from Resource Library biography dedicated to this artist by a named author

William E. Winner from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author)

Garry Winogrand from Resource Library article (dedicated solely to this artist)

Alice Beach Winter from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Alice Beach Winter from Pierce Galleries

Andrew Winter from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see Andrew Winter from Wikipedia

Carl Winter from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist)

George Winter from Resource Library article (not solely dedicated to this artist) also see George Winter from Wikipedia

(above: George Winter, Scene on the Wabash, c. 1848, oil on canvas, 26 3/4 x 20 3/4 inches, Indianapolis Museum of Art, 2009.290. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Jack Wisby from Resource Library biography dedicated to this artist by a named author

Evelyn Gladney Witherspoon from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author)

Donald Frederick Witherstine from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Donald Frederick Witherstine from Archives of American Art

Evelyn A. Withrow from Resource Library biography dedicated to this artist by a named author

Karl Witkowski from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author) also see Karl Witkowski from Rehs Galleries, Inc.

Alice Twitchell Whittaker from Resource Library essay (not solely dedicated to this artist by a named author)

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