William Wendt was born in Bentzen, Germany on Feb. 20, 1865. Wendt immigrated to Chicago in 1880 and studied briefly at the AIC while working at a commercial art ship. A self-taught painter, he became a great technician through his power of observation. Wendt was a good friend of artist Gardner Symons in Chicago and made several trips to southern California with him between 1894-1906. After his marriage to sculptress Julia Bracken in 1906, the couple moved to Los Angeles and bought the studio-home of the Wachtels on Sichel Street. Wendt was a cofounder and first president of the California Art Club in 1911 and held the position for six years. In 1912 he was elected an Associate of the National Academy and in that year built a studio-home in Laguna Beach. Before 1915 his paintings were characterized by light, short strokes and after that time he used a much broader, bolder brush. Eugen Neuhaus wrote, "He sings of spring in its rich greens and more often of the joyful quality of summer in typical tawny browns, in decorative and broad terms." Wendt is considered a giant among American artists and is often referred to as the "Dean of Southern California." He died in Laguna Beach, California on Dec. 29, 1946 and was buried next to Julia at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange.
Source: Edan Hughes, "Artists in California 1786-1940"
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